Prevalence of hypercalciuria among school children

Abstract EN

Objective : To determine the prevalence of hypercalciuria in primary and secondary school students.

Design : Prospective randomized study.

Setting : Primary and secondary schools in Makkah and Baha, Saudi Arabia.

Method : Seven hundred ninety-six school-age children were included in a study from January 2007 to December 2007.

Non-fasting random urine specimens were analyzed for calcium and creatinine concentrations.

Result: The mean ratio of urine calcium-creatinine (Ca / Cr) was 0.11 ; the range was 0.008 to 0.837.

Non-fasting Ca/Cr ratios were significantly different between Makkah and Baha and between males and females in both cities.

The Ca/Cr ratio was highest in 6-7 years-old students (mean, 0.14 ± 0.01).

Seventy-eight (9.8 %) students were hypercalciuric, 29 (3.6 %) were from Makkah and 49 (6.2 %) from Baha students.

The prevalence of hypercalciuria differed with age.

Conclusion : The study showed highly significant difference in prevalence of hypercalciuria between Makkah and Baha.

A child’s geographic area, age and ethnicity should be taken into consideration when assessing the urinary calcium creatinine ratios.