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Kidney stone formers with moderate to severe depression face nearly double the risk of death, yet mental health screening in this population remains virtually nonexistent. A new study using national survey data found that kidney stone formers are significantly more likely to experience depression — with women at especially elevated risk. Researchers are calling for routine mental health screenings and targeted interventions for this overlooked group.
Kidney stones are painful enough on their own, but new research suggests the mental health toll they take could be just as dangerous. A study presented at ASN Kidney Week found that kidney stone formers with moderate to severe depression had nearly twice the risk of dying from any cause compared to those without depression — a striking finding that's prompting calls for routine mental health screening in this population.
Researchers from Brown University analyzed data from over 23,000 participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. They found that kidney stone formers were significantly more likely to have depression than non-formers, and women with kidney stones faced an even steeper risk of depression than women without them.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: Kidney stone disease is increasingly recognized as a systemic condition linked to cardiovascular disease and other comorbidities — but mental health has been largely ignored. Poor adherence to dietary, lifestyle, and medical therapies driven by depression may be fueling higher mortality, making mental health integration into nephrology care an urgent priority.
