Heat Wave Impacts on Chronic Kidney Disease Mortality in China

Heat waves have been associated with increased mortality rates, particularly impacting chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. In China, rising temperatures due to climate change have led to an urgent need for health strategies aimed at protecting vulnerable populations from extreme heat.

This study utilized a nationwide dataset to investigate the relationship between heat wave exposure and CKD mortality in various demographic groups across China. The analysis included data from over 1 million CKD patients, employing statistical methods to adjust for confounding factors such as age, sex, and comorbidities.

Findings indicated a significant correlation between heat wave exposure and CKD mortality, with a 20% increase in mortality rates during heat wave periods compared to non-heat wave conditions. Vulnerable groups, including the elderly and those with advanced CKD stages, exhibited even higher mortality increases, with rates rising up to 30% in patients over 75 years old.

The results underscore the necessity of developing targeted public health interventions to mitigate the risks of heat waves on CKD patients, particularly among older adults and those with severe disease. Limitations include the observational design of the study, which necessitates further studies to validate these findings in different contexts.

Original citation address: https://www.besjournal.com/en/article/doi/10.3967/bes2026.013