Effects of Climate Change on Kidney and Renal Diseases

One of the consequences of climate-related extreme heat exposure is dehydration and volume loss, leading to acute mortality from exacerbations of pre-existing chronic disease, as well as from outright heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

Recent studies have also shown that recurrent heat exposure with physical exertion and inadequate hydration can lead to chronic kidney disease (CKD) that is distinct from that caused by diabetes and/or hypertension.

Epidemics of CKD consistent with heat stress nephropathy are now occurring across the world. Heat stress nephropathy may represent one of the first epidemics due to global warming. Disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) for kidney disease almost doubled, from 19 million in 1990 to 36 million in 2017.