Impact of Double-J Stent on Patient Outcomes and Healthcare Costs in Saudi Arabia: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study From a Tertiary Care Center

Background: Double-J (DJ) ureteral stents are commonly used to relieve urinary tract obstruction, yet their placement often leads to pain and other complications that can affect patients’ quality of life (QOL). This study evaluated the impact of DJ stents on patient outcomes and healthcare burden in Saudi Arabia. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted at Security Forces Hospital, Riyadh, including 135 patients who underwent ureteral stent placement between January 2021 and January 2024. The primary outcome was stent-related quality of life measured using the Ureteral Stent Symptom Questionnaire (USSQ). Data from medical records and telephone-based USSQ interviews were analyzed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression in IBM SPSS Statistics, version 27 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). Results: While a majority of patients reported acceptable post-stent QOL, many experienced pain and work-related difficulties. Pain was the most common complication, followed by sexual and urinary symptoms. The estimated per-patient healthcare cost of stent management ranged from 5,138 to 5,268 Saudi Riyal (SAR; ≈1,370-1,405 USD), reflecting a notable economic burden. Conclusion: Although DJ stenting remains effective in relieving obstruction, stent-related morbidity, particularly pain and reduced daily functioning, was significantly associated with poorer quality of life and increased healthcare burden. Optimizing perioperative care, patient education, and timely stent removal may help improve outcomes and reduce the overall system burden.