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2 clusters · 4 sources · 10 days · First seen · Last updated

Urinary stone patient statistics in South Korea

Overview

Data from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service indicates that over 335,000 patients in South Korea were treated for urinary stones in 2025. Among these patients, males accounted for approximately 223,092 cases, which is nearly double the 112,715 cases reported for females.

Urinary stones can occur in the kidneys, ureters, or bladder, often causing severe flank pain, hematuria, nausea, and vomiting. Treatment methods vary based on the size and location of the stones, ranging from observation and medication to extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy, ureteroscopy, or percutaneous nephrolithotomy. Recent advancements include robot-assisted surgery utilizing AI to assist with flexible endoscopes.

To prevent recurrence, medical experts emphasize maintaining adequate hydration to prevent the concentration of calcium, oxalate, and uric acid, though fluid intake should be tailored to individual conditions such as heart or kidney disease.

Entities

Ministry of Health and Welfare · Severance Hospital · Kangbuk Samsung Hospital · Coloplast Korea · Korea Spinal Cord Injury Association

Timeline

  1. [HEALTH] 2 sources
    South Korea reports over 335,000 urinary stone patients in 2025

    South Korean medical statistics show over 335,000 urinary stone patients in 2025, with men accounting for twice as many cases as women. Hydration and tailored medical treatments are key to management.

  2. [HEALTH] 2 sources
    South Korea expands medical support for self-catheterization

    South Korea is expanding insurance support for self-catheters for neurogenic bladder patients, reducing financial burdens and helping prevent kidney complications for approximately 10,000 people.

Sources

bosa.co.kr · healthmedia.co.kr · sportschosun.com · thebionews.net