Karger Publishers, Kidney and Blood Pressure Research, 1(48), p. 194-201, 2023
DOI: 10.1159/000529094
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<b><i>Background:</i></b> Kidney stone disease has a high prevalence worldwide of approximately 10% of the population and is characterized by a high recurrence rate. Kidney stone disease results from a combination of genetic, environmental, and lifestyle risk factors, and the dissection of these factors is complex. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> The Swiss Kidney Stone Cohort (SKSC) is an investigator-initiated prospective, multicentric longitudinal, observational study in patients with kidney stones followed with regular visits over a period of 3 years after inclusion. Ongoing follow-ups by biannual telephone interviews will provide long-term outcome data. SKSC comprises 782 adult patients (age >18 years) with either recurrent stones or a single stone event with at least one risk factor for recurrence. In addition, a control cohort of 207 individuals without kidney stone history and absence of kidney stones on a low-dose CT scan at enrolment has also been recruited. SKSC includes extensive collections of clinical data, biochemical data in blood and 24-h urine samples, and genetic data. Biosamples are stored at a dedicated biobank. Information on diet and dietary habits was collected through food frequency questionnaires and standardized recall interviews by trained dieticians with the Globodiet software. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> SKSC provides a unique opportunity and resource to further study cause and course of kidney disease in a large population with data and samples collected of a homogeneous collective of patients throughout the whole Swiss population.