Prognosis

Nephrolithiasis is a lifelong disease process. The rate of recurrence of nephrolithiasis is 50% at 5 years.[2] Risk factors for stone recurrence include younger age, higher body mass index, and family history of kidney stones. The patients at highest risk for recurrence are frequently those who do not adhere to medical therapy and dietary/lifestyle modifications, or where underlying metabolic abnormalities exist. Residual stone fragments from surgery will usually spontaneously pass as long as their size is <4 mm, though there is no significant association between the size of residual stones and subsequent disease progression.[122][123]​

The Return of Kidney Stones (ROKS) nomogram can be used to help to predict the risk of a second kidney stone.[124]

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