title: The Risk of Coronary Heart Disease in Patients with Kidney Stones: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The reported risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) in patients with a history of kidney stones is conflicting.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this meta-analysis was to assess the association between a history of kidney stones and CHD risk.
  
  
  METHODS
  A literature search was performed using MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews from inception until April 04, 2014. Studies that reported odds ratios or hazard ratios comparing the risk of CHD in patients with a history of kidney stones versus those without a history of kidney stones were included. Pooled risk ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated using a random-effect, generic inverse variance method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seven study populations from four cohort studies and one cross-sectional study were identified and included in the data analysis. The pooled risk ratio (RR) of CHD in patients with kidney stones was 1.24 (95% CI, 1.10-1.40). This result remained significant (RR, 1.23 [95% CI, 1.08-1.41]) when the sensitivity analysis was restricted to only cohort studies. A history of kidney stones was associated with increased CHD risk in females (RR, 1.43 [95% CI, 1.12-1.82]), whereas the association was not significant in males (RR, 1.14 [95% CI, 0.94-1.38]).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study demonstrates a statistically significant increased risk of CHD in female patients with prior kidney stones. This finding suggests that a history of kidney stones is a risk factor for CHD in females and may impact clinical management.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.
authors.forename: Wisit
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Cheungpasitporn
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.
authors.forename: Charat
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Thongprayoon
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.affiliation: University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: Oisin A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: O'Corragain
authors.affiliation: SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Edmonds
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.
authors.forename: Stephen B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Erickson
keywords: Cardiovascular; gender; nephrolithiasis