Climate change may be accelerating rates of chronic kidney disease caused by dehydration and heat stress, according to research published in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (CJASN). The findings suggest that heat stress nephropathy may represent a disease of neglected populations, but one that may emerge as a major cause of poor kidney health in the near future.

A team led by Richard Johnson, MD, Jay Lemery, MD,  from the University of Colorado School of Medicine, and Jason Glaser, from La Isla Foundation,  sought to describe reports of heat stress nephropathy—or chronic kidney disease consistent with heat stress—that are already occurring throughout the world.

The investigators found that chronic kidney disease that is not associated with traditional risk factors appears to be increasing in rural hot communities as worldwide temperature progressively rises. They believe the risk for heat stress nephropathy has increased due to global warming and an increase in extreme heat waves, and it is having a disproportionate impact on vulnerable populations, such as agricultural workers. Decreasing precipitation exacerbates this epidemic by reducing the water supply and water quality as temperatures climbs.

The researchers recommend that governments and scientists work together to conduct epidemiological and clinical studies to document the presence of these epidemics and their magnitude. Interventions are also needed to improve worksite conditions and ensure adequate hydration.

“We were able to connect increased rates of chronic kidney disease in different areas to an underlying mechanism—heat stress and dehydration—and to climate,” said Johnson. “A new type of kidney disease, occurring throughout the world in hot areas, is linked with temperature and climate and may be one of the first epidemics due to global warming.”