Heatwaves Identified as Independent Risk Factor for Chronic Kidney Disease: Study

A new study published in the journal of BMC Nephrology showed that in middle-aged and older persons, heatwave exposure is an independent environmental risk factor for the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD).

The general health of the kidneys is increasingly at risk from these extreme heatwaves. Despite these concerning environmental trends, there is still a dearth of scientific studies examining the direct link between extended exposure to heatwaves and CKD. Vulnerable persons in middle-aged and older groups are particularly concerned about this crucial absence of data. Thus, the effects of heatwave exposure on CKD patients were evaluated in this study.

Using data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, this study examined data from 6,718 people who were 45 years of age or older between 2011 and 2015. The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was used to assess kidney function during baseline and endpoint surveys. Different temperature thresholds (such as the 90th, 95th, and 97.5th percentiles) and durations of 2 to 4 days in a row were indicative of heatwaves. The relationship between heatwave exposure and the morbidity of CKD was investigated using logistic regression models, and sensitivity analyses were carried out to make sure the results were reliable.

Heatwave exposure and the risk of CKD were shown to be positively correlated in this investigation across a range of categories. This study found that longer and more intense heatwaves were linked to greater chances of developing chronic kidney disease, indicating a dose-response connection. They distinguished "dual high-risk zones," which are defined by both high CKD prevalence and prolonged heat exposure, and "heatwave-dominant zones," which are defined by lower CKD prevalence but protracted heat exposure, using clustering analysis to identify geographic heterogeneity.

Additionally, participants with pre-existing chronic diseases including diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension showed significant interactions during high-intensity heatwaves, notably HW11 (97.5th percentile for 3 days) and HW11 (97.5th percentile for 4 days). Overall, heatwave exposure is a separate environmental risk factor for CKD in middle-aged and older persons. These results highlight the need to include climate-related health hazards in CKD preventive and public health efforts, since rising temperatures and intense heat events may lead to kidney damage.

Source:

Yang, H., Wang, H., & Yang, L. (2026). Impact of heatwave exposure on chronic kidney disease risk among middle-aged and older adults: evidence from the China health and retirement longitudinal study. BMC Nephrology. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12882-026-05112-8