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Hottest summer on record since measurements began -

According to the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service, the summer of 2024 was the hottest on record. Global temperatures were 0.69°C (33.2°F) above historical averages, beating the previous high set in 2023.

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Extreme heat exposure -

While extreme heat exposure is commonly associated with heat stroke, heat exhaustion, and dehydration, researchers are finding that it can also contribute to long-term health problems like heart disease and kidney failure.

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A 2022 study -

A study conducted in 2022 found that patients with CKDu had worked in the landscaping, roofing, or agriculture industries. It also suggested that individuals working in high-stress environments might be at greater risk of developing kidney disease in a warming climate.

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Extreme heat and the cardiovascular system -

Extreme heat makes the cardiovascular system work exponentially harder in order to keep the body at a safe temperature. Over time, this can take a toll on organs like the heart and kidneys.

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What is chronic kidney disease? -

Chronic kidney disease means that the kidneys are damaged and are not working effectively to filter out wastes, toxins, and excess water from the blood.

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What is chronic kidney disease? -

The kidneys also help with other functions like bone and red blood cell health. When the kidneys lose their function, the waste builds up in the blood.

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How is kidney disease diagnosed? -

Kidney disease is diagnosed via blood tests to check for creatinine levels, which indicate how well the kidneys are filtering blood, and urine tests to detect protein or blood. Imaging tests or a kidney biopsy may also be used to assess kidney damage.

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Why is kidney disease called "chronic"? -

Kidney disease is "chronic" because kidney function decreases over time. Not everyone with chronic kidney disease will develop kidney failure, but the disease often worsens without treatment.

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Treatment for kidney disease -

Depending on the stage of kidney disease, a healthcare practitioner may prescribe medication, dialysis (a procedure that uses machines to remove waste products from the body), or a kidney transplant.

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Cost -

Dialysis is an expensive treatment, averaging around US$90,000 per patient annually in the United States. As the number of patients rises, the total healthcare cost would increase substantially.

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Symptoms of kidney disease -

Symptoms are often not noticeable in the early stages of kidney disease, but as it progresses you may experience increased frequency of urination, loss of appetite, and fatigue or low energy levels.

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Symptoms of kidney disease -

Other noticeable symptoms include swelling of your hands, feet, and ankles, muscle cramps, trouble sleeping, shortness of breath, and puffy eyes.

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Complications of kidney disease -

Some of the complications of kidney disease include, anemia, weak and brittle bones, high blood pressure, and heart disease.

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Younger patients -

In recent decades, younger people in Sri Lanka, Central America, India, and Saudi Arabia have been attending dialysis centers with severe kidney damage and none of the typical risk factors.

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Typical risk factors -

People are more at risk of chronic kidney disease if they have diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, are over the age of 60, or have a family history of kidney disease.

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The cause of kidney disease in otherwise healthy young people -

Experts aren't certain whether heat is the primary cause of kidney disease in otherwise healthy young people. Other factors such as pesticides, contaminated drinking water, or using painkillers could be contributing factors.

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Wildfire smoke -

Wildfire smoke carries microscopic particles that can reach the bloodstream and kidneys, which can be damaged over time.

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Dehydration and heat exposure -

Some experts believe high temperatures while working a demanding physical job accelerate kidney injuries that accumulate over time.

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Labor protections -

Farmworkers, particularly those with few labor protections, face specific risk factors, such as payment systems that discourage water breaks.

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Labor protections -

In May 2024, a published study found that workers who are paid a piece rate for the amount of food picked rather than hours worked had higher rates of acute kidney injury.

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Workers push themselves to meet their quotas -

Workers have to push themselves in extreme heat to pick fruits and vegetables as quickly as possible. While they know they need to drink water to stay safe, low wages and the pressure to meet quotas force them to keep working.

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Healthcare in the United States -

Immigrant workers in the US often have to return to their home countries because they can't access the healthcare system, relying on their families for care.

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Heat protections for workers in the US -

Currently, only a handful of US states have heat exposure standards. Some states, notably Florida and Texas, prohibit local governments from enacting protections.

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A national heat standard -

In July 2024, the Biden administration proposed a national heat standard that experts believe could help prevent a surge in heat-related illnesses.

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Sugar cane workers in Chichigalpa, Nicaragua -

Researchers conducting a study of sugar cane workers in Chichigalpa, Nicaragua, an area with high chronic kidney disease rates, found that providing basic protections, such as access to drinking water and breaks in shaded areas, reduced the risk of incident kidney injury.

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The world's first occupational disease caused by climate change? -

The link between rising temperatures and increasing cases of CKDu suggests that the disease could be the first of its kind caused by climate change. Like the coal miner's black lung, it can be prevented with the addition of workplace safety standards.

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Black lung disease -

Black lung disease, or coal workers' pneumoconiosis, occurs when coal dust is inhaled. Continuous exposure causes scarring in the lungs, impairing the ability to breathe.

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What about the general population? -

Research is ongoing to figure out what long-term exposure to higher temperatures means for the general population. In a warming climate, we could all be at risk of kidney dysfunction.

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Increasing risk of hospitalization -

Research has found that for every 1°C (33.8°F) increase in temperature, the estimated risk of hospitalization for renal diseases, like kidney disease, lasting up to seven days increased by 0.9%. 

Sources: (The Guardian) (World Economic Forum) (Time) (Cleveland Clinic)

See also: The countries that will most likely survive climate change

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