A cardiometabolic index measure combining lipid levels and body composition could help identify individuals more likely to develop kidney stones, according to a study published in Frontiers in Endocrinology.

Researchers from Yuebei People’s Hospital in China investigated the association between the cardiometabolic index (CMI) and renal stone prevalence. The CMI assesses cardiovascular and metabolic risk by integrating the waist-to-height ratio with the ratio of triglycerides to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Elevated CMI values are typically linked to metabolic disorders, including metabolic syndrome, obesity, and insulin resistance, all of which have been associated with kidney stone formation.

The study analysed data from 14,200 US adults participating in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Of these, 1,357 had kidney stones, whilst 12,843 did not. Participants with kidney stones had significantly higher CMI levels than those without the condition.

Analysis revealed that kidney stone prevalence increased by 19% with every unit increase in CMI, an association that remained significant after adjusting for confounding factors. The correlation was particularly pronounced when CMI was below 1.34.

Subgroup analyses indicated the association between CMI and renal stones was strongest among adults younger than 50 years, females, and those with obesity, chronic kidney disease, or diabetes. Additional risk factors for kidney stone development included older age, male sex, non-Hispanic White ethnicity, physical inactivity, obesity, and smoking.

The researchers suggested that early CMI monitoring could provide valuable insights for public health screening, enabling identification of metabolic issues and kidney stone risk in high-risk groups and supporting the development of personalised prevention strategies.

Source: Physicians Weekly / Frontiers in Endocrinology (2026)