The Impact of Cigarette Smoking, Alcohol Drinking and Betel Quid Chewing on the Risk of Calcium Urolithiasis

PurposeTo evaluate the independent and combined effects of alcohol drinking, cigarette smoking and betel quid chewing on the risk of calcium urolithiasis.MethodsA total of 354 cases diagnosed with calcium urolithiasis and 354 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were recruited from Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital between June 2003 and February 2007. All subjects completed a detailed questionnaire survey and provided blood and urine samples for biochemical evaluation.ResultsCurrent cigarette smoking (odds ratio [OR], 1.66; 95% confidence interval [95%CI], 1.11–2.50; p = 0.014) and current betel quid chewing (OR, 1.97; 95%CI, 1.06–3.64; p = 0.032), but not current alcohol drinking, were found to be independent risk factors for the development of calcium urolithiasis. The joint risk of current cigarette smoking and current betel quid chewing was increased 3.73-fold (OR, 3.73; 95%CI, 1.81–7.70, p < 0.001) compared to those who had neither habit.ConclusionsBoth cigarette smoking and betel quid chewing are independent risk factors for the development of calcium urolithiasis. The risk effect is even strengthened when subjects have both habits. These findings suggest users can greatly reduce the risk of calcium urolithiasis if they quit these two habits.