The association between body roundness index and kidney stones in a diabetic population: NHANES 2011–2018

Background Predominantly attributed to metabolic disruptions, individuals with diabetes are more prone to kidney stones than the general population. The Body Rounds Index (BRI), a new measure of obesity and health risks, has been shown to have a positive correlation with the risk of developing kidney stones. Our study sets out to explore the correlation between BRI and kidney stones specifically within the diabetic population. Methods Leveraging data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) spanning 2011 to 2018, this cross-sectional study probed the link between BRI and kidney stones among diabetic individuals. We conducted a logistic regression analysis to investigate the relationship between BRI and kidney stones, with adjustments for various covariates. To further explore the association trends between different BRI levels and the incidence of kidney stones, we categorized BRI into four levels, thereby enhancing the robustness of our results. Additionally, subgroup and sensitivity analyses were performed to ensure the reliability and consistency of our findings. Results A total of 3,558 diabetic patients were included in this study, of whom 546 (15.3%) had kidney stones. After adjusting for some and all confounders, we observed that the prevalence of kidney stones in diabetic patients increased by 7% and 5% for each unit increase in BRI in Models 2 and 3, respectively (Model 2: OR=1.07, 95% CI: 1.03-1.11; Model 3: OR=1.05, 95% CI: 1.00-1.09).This association remained statistically significant when the BRI was divided into quartiles, the prevalence of kidney stones in the highest quartile of BRI (Q4) was 50% greater than in the lowest quartile (Q1) (OR=1.50, 95% CI: 1.14-1.98; P<0.05). Conclusions Our research indicates a positive correlation between BRI and the incidence of kidney stones among diabetics. We believe that BRI may be an effective indicator for assessing the risk of kidney stones in diabetic patients.