Excessive Screen Time Linked to Early Kidney Damage in Teens, suggests research
Researchers have identified in a new study that teenagers who spend more time on screens can be at risk of early kidney damage, as reflected by increased levels of albuminuria, a major indicator of kidney injury. The results point to the possible deleterious impact of long-term screen exposure on renal health in adolescents and infer that restriction of screen time could bestow kidney protection in the long run. The study was published in Pediatric Nephrology journal by Haiyuan Z. and colleagues.
The study used data obtained from the 2016–2017 China Nutrition and Health Surveillance of Children and Lactating Women involving 6277 adolescents from five provinces. On application of inclusion criteria, 4524 participants were included. Screen time was asked about in self-report format using structured questionnaires that assessed all forms of electronic device exposure, such as smartphones, computers, and televisions.
Participants were grouped according to overall daily screen exposure: less than 1 hour a day, 1–2 hours a day, and greater than 2 hours a day. Albuminuria was defined by laboratory measurement of the urine albumin-creatinine ratio, which is a sensitive marker of early kidney damage. Investigators subsequently applied logistic regression models to analyze the association between screen time and risk of albuminuria.
Results
Following control for several covariates including age, sex, physical activity, and diet, the research established a significant association between screen time and albuminuria.
When compared to adolescents with less than 1 hour of screen time daily, adolescents with 1–2 hours had 1.68 times greater odds of having albuminuria (OR = 1.68; 95% CI 1.28–2.20; p < 0.001), and adolescents with over 2 hours had 1.34 times greater odds (OR = 1.34; 95% CI 1.01–1.80; p < 0.05).
These associations were strong even after sensitivity analyses.
The association between extended screen time and albuminuria was more pronounced among adolescents with poor sleep (p for interaction < 0.05), implying that sleep loss could exacerbate the renal impact of excessive screen exposure.
The research concludes that excessive screen exposure is strongly associated with greater chances of albuminuria in teenagers, propounding that excessive digital exposure could be a causative factor for early kidney damage. The association seems more pronounced among individuals with poor sleep patterns, pointing towards an additive effect of lifestyle determinants on kidney function. These observations emphasize the emerging imperative for prevention and awareness of lifestyle-linked kidney hazards among younger generations. Causality should be established with longitudinal studies and the mechanisms of this association investigated.
Reference:
Zhu, H., Zhang, R., Li, C. et al. Excessive screen time in relation to albuminuria in adolescents: a finding from the China Nutrition and Health Surveillance. Pediatr Nephrol (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00467-025-07014-7
