This study aimed to assess the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of patients undergoing ureteroscopy for renal and ureteral stones, using the Wisconsin Stone Quality of Life (WISQOL) questionnaire. Nephrolithiasis significantly impacts the quality of life, and while surgical interventions like ureteroscopy are common, their long-term effects on HRQOL have not been well studied. In this prospective study, 178 patients were enrolled, with 67 completing the 30-day follow-up. Participants completed the WISQOL questionnaire preoperatively (POD 0) and 30 days postoperatively (POD 30). The WISQOL measures multiple HRQOL domains, including social, emotional, disease-related, and vitality, along with a total score.
The results showed a statistically significant improvement in all dimensions of HRQOL from POD 0 to POD 30. The median score improvement was +22 for social, +29 for emotional, +28 for disease, +25 for vitality, and +21 for the total score. This highlights the significant positive impact that ureteroscopy can have on patients’ quality of life in just 30 days post-surgery. Additionally, the study found no significant demographic or surgical factors associated with enhanced recovery, meaning that improvement in HRQOL occurred broadly across the patient population.
This is the first study to prospectively document the recovery profile of ureteroscopy using WISQOL in a real-world cohort, providing valuable insights into patient recovery following the procedure. The findings are important for counseling patients and setting realistic expectations for their postoperative recovery. Overall, ureteroscopy is shown to significantly improve HRQOL, addressing social, emotional, and disease-related challenges associated with kidney stones, with meaningful improvements within the first month after surgery.
