Association Between Serum Ferritin Levels and the Risk of Kidney Stones in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Cross-Sectional Study.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

Prior research has identified a significant correlation between elevated serum ferritin (SF) levels and comorbidities in Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients. However, the association between SF levels and kidney stone occurrence in T2DM remains unexplored. This study aimed to assess the relationship between SF levels and kidney stone risk in T2DM patients.

Methods

This study collected data from 50,583 patients with T2DM who received treatment at the First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China from December 2015 to December 2023. Ultimately, 1024 eligible patients were included for analysis. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to determine the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) for the association between SF and kidney stones. A multivariable-adjusted restricted cubic spline model was constructed to establish the OR curves to examine the possible nonlinear dose-response association between SF and kidney stones.

Results

Of 1024 patients included in this study (mean age, 56.31 ± 9.82 years-old; 686 [67.0%] male), 148 (14.5%) reported having kidney stones, while 876 (85.5%) did not. After adjusting for potential confounders, the SF levels were associated with kidney stones (OR = 1.001; 95% CI, 1.000-1.002; p < 0.001). Participants in the highest quartile (Q4) of SF levels (333.60 ≤ SF ≤ 1867.00 ng/mL) had an adjusted OR for kidney stones of 2.901 (95% CI, 1.710-4.901; p trend < 0.001) compared to those in the lowest quartile (Q1) (6.20 ≤ SF ≤ 99.35 ng/mL). The multivariable restricted cubic spline showed a nonlinear association between SF levels and kidney stones (p=0.033). Subgroup analyses showed that SF levels were associated with kidney stones in male (OR = 2.04; 95% CI, 1.06-4.14), individuals ≤ 60 years-old of age (OR = 2.34; 95% CI, 1.21-4.73), with no smoke history (OR = 2.00; 95% CI, 1.06-3.85).

Conclusion

Elevated SF levels are associated with kidney stones in T2DM patients.

SUBMITTER: Mo W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12674875 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature