What is the most common type of kidney stone?

Calcium oxalate stones are the most prevalent type of kidney stone formed in the body. These stones develop when there is an excess of calcium in the urine, often combined with oxalate, a substance found in many foods such as spinach, nuts, and tea. Factors contributing to the formation of calcium oxalate stones include dietary habits, dehydration, and certain metabolic conditions.

Understanding the commonality of calcium oxalate stones highlights their association with dietary and lifestyle factors, which can often be modified to help prevent their formation. In practice, advising patients on hydration and dietary adjustments is integral to managing and reducing the risk of these stones. While other types of stones—like struvite, cystine, and uric acid stones—are significant, they occur less frequently in the general population compared to calcium oxalate stones. Thus, recognizing the dominance of calcium oxalate in kidney stone cases is essential for effective diagnosis and treatment in nephrology.