Kidney Injury Significantly Increases Hypertension Risk, Study Finds

The findings of the study were both significant and concerning:

• 35% of patients with renal trauma developed new-onset hypertension, compared to 21% in the control group—a statistically significant difference.
• After adjusting for confounding factors, patients with renal trauma were found to be nearly 80% more likely to develop hypertension than those in the control group (Hazard Ratio [HR] 1.8).
• Among various treatment approaches, patients who underwent angioembolization had the highest risk of developing hypertension (HR 3.4), followed by those who had a nephrectomy (HR 2.4), indicating that more invasive procedures may carry greater long-term cardiovascular consequences.
• Additional risk factors included older age, female sex, prolonged hospital stays, and comorbidities such as diabetes, obesity, hyperlipidemia, and alcohol use.
• Notably, even those who were managed conservatively for renal trauma—without surgical intervention—still demonstrated a significant risk of developing hypertension over time.

According to the researchers, the investigation is the largest and first longitudinal cohort study to explore the association between renal trauma and subsequent hypertension. They advocate for long-term follow-up in patients who have sustained renal trauma, regardless of how the injury was managed.

“The study highlights the importance of proactive follow-up in patients with renal trauma, not only to manage the immediate injury but also to mitigate the long-term risk of cardiovascular disease through early detection and management of hypertension,” the researchers concluded.

Reference:

Kurtzman, J. T., Swallow, M., Horns, J. J., Woodle, T., McCormick, B., & Myers, J. (2025). Risk of Hypertension after Renal Trauma: An Analysis of a Large Insurance Claims Database. Urology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.urology.2025.07.045