Table 1.

Key priorities for research in urinary stone disease

Topic	Key Research Priorities
Epidemiology	Causes of the increasing prevalence of USD in children; identifying modifiable risk factors for stone recurrence; determinants of the risk difference between men and women; causal mechanism underlying the association with metabolic syndrome; associations between USD and extrarenal disease (e.g., coronary heart and bone disease); updated estimates of stone recurrence rate
Microbiota	Influence of urinary microbiota; gastrointestinal microbiota, oxalate metabolism, and stone risk
Exposome	Temperature, climate, and USD risk; sunlight exposure and USD risk; mineral composition of water and USD risk; diet (including beverages) and USD risk; occupation
Prevention	Dietary interventions—secondary prevention (high-quality trials); water intake—primary and secondary prevention (high-quality trials); age–appropriate behavioral/social interventions to increase adherence; role of 24-h urine chemistry analysis in predicting recurrence risk after starting pharmacologic therapy
Care delivery	Ureteral stent discomfort—mechanism and amelioration; patient-reported outcomes/patient-reported experience; optimal evaluation of a patient with acute stones (imaging and laboratory analysis); care coordination/multidisciplinary approach; cost drivers for USD burden of care

USD, urinary stone disease.