Climate and Kidney Injury: A look at the impact of meteorological factors on kidney function within Colorado

Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) and Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) are serious health conditions with an enormous global health burden. There is evidence to suggest that CKD rates are increasing within the U.S. despite declines in traditional risk factors for kidney injury and disease, disproportionately impacting certain populations. Changes in meteorological factors because of climate change may be partially responsible for this increase in kidney injury. This study evaluated the association between acute kidney injury (AKI) and meteorological factors controlling for demographic and health factors among adults within the San Luis Valley, Colorado, a rural, bi-ethnic agrarian community at increased risk for health impacts from climate change, over a 15-year period. Relative humidity was a significant predictor of AKI controlling for age, sex, history of hypertension, and history of diabetes. Changing weather patterns may increase risk of AKI and the subsequent development of CKD within the U.S. These findings may help public health practitioners and medical professionals to identify populations at risk of incurring acute or chronic kidney injury as seasonal weather patterns change. Further research should investigate the role of heat, heat stress, and dehydration in developing CKD in the U.S.