Epidemiological characteristics of nephrectomies in Ukraine during 2018–2023

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14739/2310-1210.2026.3.355164

Keywords:

nephrectomy, epidemiological indicators, regional characteristics

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyze temporal trends and regional distribution of nephrectomies within the spectrum of kidney and ureter surgery in Ukraine, including macro-regional and oblast-level characteristics in 2018–2023.

Materials and methods. Data were obtained from the annual statistical reports of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine; indicators of inpatient medical care were analyzed for Ukraine as a whole, for five macro-regions (West, Central, North-East, South-East, South), individual oblasts, and Kyiv. Statistical analysis was performed with IBM SPSS Statistics usinng chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests; p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results. Over the six-year study period, the total number of kidney and ureter surgeries increased, with the largest relative increase occurring in 2022–2023. The annual number of nephrectomies declined from 2020 to 2022 by 19 %, followed by an increase in 2023. The indications for nephrectomy shifted significantly: the proportions attributable to hydronephrosis and urolithiasis decreased (p < 0.05) in 2021–2023, and to malignant renal neoplasms in 2021 (p < 0.001), despite an otherwise stable proportion over 2018–2020 and 2022–2023. The proportions attributable to benign renal neoplasms and pyelonephritis increased from 2019 onward, with both groups reaching higher percentages in 2022–2023 than in 2018. In patients with nephrolithiasis, the absolute number of nephrectomies declined by 25 % between 2018 and 2023; during the same period, nephrectomies for pyelonephritis/pyelonephrosis increased by 200 % in absolute terms.

Conclusions. Distinct temporal trends and regional variation in nephrectomy rates across Ukraine were identified for 2018–2023. These patterns are temporally consistent with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic (2020–2021) and the ongoing armed conflict (from 2022) and are associated with a statistically significant increase in the proportions of nephrectomies performed in the Central, Western, and North-Eastern regions, accompanied by a decrease in the Southern regions and Kyiv (p < 0.001).

Author Biographies

S. O. Vozianov, State Institution “Academician O. F. Vozianov Institute of Urology of the NAMS of Ukraine”, Kyiv

MD, PhD, DSc, Professor, Acting Director of the State Institution “Academician O. F. Vozianov Institute of Urology of the NAMS of Ukraine”, Kyiv; Academician of the NAMS of Ukraine

O. V. Shulyak, State Institution “Academician O. F. Vozianov Institute of Urology of the NAMS of Ukraine”, Kyiv

MD, PhD, DSc, Professor, Deputy Director for Scientific Work

V. Ye. Driianska, State Institution “Academician O. F. Vozianov Institute of Urology of the NAMS of Ukraine”, Kyiv

MD, PhD, DSc, Professor, Head of the Department of Epidemiology, Organizational and Methodological Work, Technology Transfer, Innovation, and Intellectual Property

V. M. Grygorenko, State Institution “Academician O. F. Vozianov Institute of Urology of the NAMS of Ukraine”, Kyiv

MD, PhD, DSc, Professor, Head of the Department of Restorative Urology and New Technologies

O. S. Vozianov, State Institution “Academician O. F. Vozianov Institute of Urology of the NAMS of Ukraine”, Kyiv

PhD, Senior Researcher, Department of Endoscopic Urology and Lithotripsy

G. Ye. Kononova, State Institution “Academician O. F. Vozianov Institute of Urology of the NAMS of Ukraine”, Kyiv

Junior Researcher, Department of Epidemiology, Organizational and Methodological Work, Technology Transfer, Innovation, and Intellectual Property

Yu. O. Mytsyk, Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University

MD, PhD, DSc, Professor of the Department of Urology FPGE

L. M. Startseva, State Institution “Academician O. F. Vozianov Institute of Urology of the NAMS of Ukraine”, Kyiv

MD, PhD, Senior Researcher, Scientific Secretary

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Published

2026-06-11

How to Cite

1.
Vozianov SO, Shulyak OV, Driianska VY, Grygorenko VM, Vozianov OS, Kononova GY, Mytsyk YO, Startseva LM. Epidemiological characteristics of nephrectomies in Ukraine during 2018–2023. Zaporozhye Medical Journal [Internet]. 2026Jun.11 [cited 2026Jun.11];28(3):200-1. Available from: https://zmj.zsmu.edu.ua/article/view/355164

Issue

Vol. 28 No. 3 (2026): Zaporozhye Medical Journal

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Original research

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Copyright (c) 2026 S. O. Vozianov, O. V. Shulyak, V. Ye. Driianska, V. M. Grygorenko, O. S. Vozianov, G. Ye. Kononova, Yu. O. Mytsyk, L. M. Startseva

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