Combined effects of air pollution and extreme heat events among ESKD patients within the Northeastern United States

Harnessing Evolution and Biomimetics to Enhance Planetary Health: Kidney Insights

Planetary health encompasses the understanding that the long-term well-being of humanity is intrinsically linked to the health of global ecological systems. Unfortunately, current practices often overlook this principle, leading to a human-oriented (anthropocentric) worldview that has resulted in heightened greenhouse gas emissions, increased heat stress, lack of access to clean water, and pollution, threatening both the environment and health and survival of Homo sapiens and countless other species. One significant consequence of these environmental changes is the exacerbation of inflammatory and oxidative stressors, which not only contributes to common lifestyle diseases but also accelerates the aging process. We advocate for a shift away from our current anthropocentric frameworks to an approach that focuses on nature's solutions that developed from natural selection over the eons. This approach, which encompasses the field of biomimicry, may provide insights that can help protect against an inflammatory phenotype to mitigate physiological and cellular senescence and provide a buffer against environmental stressors. Gaining insights from how animals have developed ingenious approaches to combat adversity through the evolutionary process of natural selection not only provides solutions for climate change but also confronts the rising burden of lifestyle diseases that accumulate with age.

Respiratory and Cardiovascular Medical Emergency Calls Related to Indoor Heat Exposure through a Case-Control Study in New York City

Understanding when and where heat adversely influences health outcomes is critical for targeting interventions and adaptations. However, few studies have analyzed the role of indoor heat exposures on acute health outcomes. To address this research gap, the study partnered with the New York City Fire Department Emergency Medical Services. Paramedics carried portable sensors that passively measured indoor temperatures at 3-min intervals while responding to calls during summer, 2016. Patient care reports provided the patient's chief health complaint and sociodemographic and health status information. Propensity score matching increased comparability between groups exposed to elevated indoor temperature versus those unexposed. To assess indoor heat-health associations, we conducted independent case-control studies between indoor heat exposures and cardiovascular (n = 735) and respiratory (n = 296) emergency medical calls when compared to heat-insensitive controls (n = 1611). Patients experiencing heat exposures (indoor temperature ≥ 28 °C) were not significantly more likely (OR, 1.15; 95% CI, 0.64-2.09) to receive care for respiratory conditions. Both outdoor and indoor temperatures increased the odds of receiving care for cardiovascular versus comparison calls. Outdoor temperatures consistently elevated cardiovascular risks (OR, 1.12; 95% CI, 1.05-1.19). There was some evidence that indoor temperatures further increased the odds of cardiovascular distress (OR, 1.44; 95% CI, 0.97-2.13). Sensitivity testing suggested indoor temperatures at a lower threshold (≥ 26 °C) were unrelated to either health outcome. Along with converging lines of evidence linking extreme heat to adverse cardiovascular outcomes, we present one of the first indoor heat observational studies.

The association between short-term exposure to ambient PM2.5 and hospitalization costs in patients with myocardial infarction: a hospital-based study

Myocardial infarction (MI) ranks as one of the primary causes of global disabilities and disease deaths. The association between fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and MI has gained attention in recent years. In this study, we assessed the relationship between short-term PM2.5 exposure and MI inpatient hospitalization costs using multiple linear regression, and estimated the attributable MI burden. Stratified analyses were done by gender, age, season, and hyperlipidemia. The economic burden of PM2.5 was assessed using WHO (25 μg/m³) and China's (75 μg/m³) criteria. PM2.5 concentration positively correlated with MI hospitalization costs. A 10 μg/m³ increase in Lag015 PM2.5 led to a 940.05 CNY (95% CI: 141.87-1463.23) increase in costs. Furthermore, the association was stronger in males, those <65 years old, and patients with hyperlipidemia. This study first indicates that short-term PM2.5 levels can be positively associated with MI's economic burden, especially in cool seasons.

Time Series Analysis: Associations Between Temperature and Primary Care Utilization in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

INTRODUCTION

Earth's temperature has risen by an average of 0.11°F per decade since 1850 and experts predict continued global warming. Studies have shown that exposure to extreme temperatures is associated with adverse health outcomes. Missed primary care visits can lead to incomplete preventive health screenings and unmanaged chronic diseases. This study examines the associations between extreme temperature conditions and primary care utilization among adult Philadelphians.

METHODS

A total of 1,048,575 appointments from 91,580 patients age ≥ 18 years enrolled in the study at thirteen university-based outpatient clinics in Philadelphia from January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2019. Statistical analysis was performed from June to December 2023. Data on attended and missed appointments was linked with measures of daily maximum temperature and precipitation, stratified by warm and cold seasons. Sociodemographic variables and associations with chronic disease status were explored.

RESULTS

Rates of missed appointments increased by 0.72% for every 1°F decrease in daily maximum temperatures below 39°F and increased by 0.64% for every 1°F increase above 89°F. Individuals ≥ 65 years and those with chronic conditions had stronger associations with an increased rate of missed appointments.

CONCLUSIONS

Temperature extremes were associated with higher rates of missed primary care appointments. Individuals with chronic diseases were more likely to have missed appointments associated with extreme temperatures. The findings suggest the need for primary care physicians to explore different modes of care delivery to support vulnerable populations, such as making telemedicine during extreme weather events a viable and affordable option.

The general external exposome and the development or progression of chronic kidney disease: A systematic review and meta-analyses

The impact of environmental risk factors on chronic kidney disease (CKD) remains unclear. This systematic review aims to provide an overview of the literature on the association between the general external exposome and CKD development or progression. We searched MEDLINE and EMBASE for case-control or cohort studies, that investigated the association of the general external exposome with a change in eGFR or albuminuria, diagnosis or progression of CKD, or CKD-related mortality. The risk of bias of included studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Summary effect estimates were calculated using random-effects meta-analyses. Most of the 66 included studies focused on air pollution (n = 33), e.g. particulate matter (PM) and nitric oxides (NOx), and heavy metals (n = 21) e.g. lead and cadmium. Few studies investigated chemicals (n = 7) or built environmental factors (n = 5). No articles on other environment factors such as noise, food supply, or urbanization were found. PM2.5 exposure was associated with an increased CKD and end-stage kidney disease incidence, but not with CKD-related mortality. There was mixed evidence regarding the association of NO2 and PM10 on CKD incidence. Exposure to heavy metals might be associated with an increased risk of adverse kidney outcomes, however, evidence was inconsistent. Studies on effects of chemicals or built environment on kidney outcomes were inconclusive. In conclusion, prolonged exposure to PM2.5 is associated with an increased risk of CKD incidence and progression to kidney failure. Current studies predominantly investigate the exposure to air pollution and heavy metals, whereas chemicals and the built environment remains understudied. Substantial heterogeneity and mixed evidence were found across studies. Therefore, long-term high-quality studies are needed to elucidate the impact of exposure to chemicals or other (built) environmental factors and CKD.

Elevated Ambient Temperature Associated With Increased Cardiovascular Disease-Risk Among Patients on Hemodialysis

Introduction

In many parts of the world, ambient temperatures have increased due to climate change. Due to loss of renal function, which impacts the regulation of thermoregulatory mechanisms, the ability to adapt and to be resilient to changing conditions is particularly concerning among individuals with kidney failure. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of heat on mortality and health care utilization among US patients on hemodialysis.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective analysis from 2011 to 2016 in the contiguous United States during warmer months among eligible patients on dialysis who were identified in the United States Renal Data System (USRDS). Daily ambient temperature was estimated on a 1 km grid and assigned to ZIP-code. Case-crossover design with conditional Poisson models were used to assess the risk of developing adverse health outcomes associated with temperature exposure.

Results

Overall, exposure to high temperature is associated with elevated risk for both mortality and health care utilization among hemodialysis patients. The risk ratios for all-cause mortality and daily temperature were 1.07 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.03-1.11), 1.17 (1.14-1.21) for fluid disorder-related hospital admissions, and 1.19 (1.16-1.22) for cardiovascular event-related emergency department (ED) visits, comparing 99th percentile versus 50th percentile daily temperatures. Larger effects were observed for cumulative lagged exposure 3 days prior to the outcome and for Southwest and Northwest climate regions.

Conclusion

Heat exposure is associated with elevated risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD)-related mortality and health care utilization among this vulnerable population. Furthermore, the effect appears to be potentially cumulative in the short-term and varies geographically.

Associations between heat waves and chronic kidney disease in China: The modifying role of land cover

The increasing frequency of heat waves under the global urbanization and climate change background poses elevating risks of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Nevertheless, there has been no evidence on associations between long-term exposures to heat waves and CKD as well as the modifying effects of land cover patterns. Based on a national representative population-based survey on CKD covering 47,086 adults and high spatial resolution datasets on temperature and land cover data, we found that annual days of exposure to heat waves were associated with increased odds of CKD prevalence. For one day/year increases in HW_975_4d (above 97.5 % of annual maximum temperature and lasting for at least 4 consecutive days), the odds ratio (OR) of CKD was 1.14 (95 %CI: 1.12, 1.15). Meanwhile, stronger associations were observed in regions with lower urbanicity [rural: 1.14 (95 %CI: 1.12, 1.16) vs urban: 1.07 (95 %CI: 1.03, 1.11), Pinteraction < 0.001], lower water body coverage [lower: 1.14 (95 %CI: 1.12, 1.16) vs higher: 1.02 (95 %CI: 0.98, 1.05), Pinteraction < 0.001], and lower impervious area coverage [lower: 1.16 (95 %CI: 1.14, 1.18) vs higher: 1.06 (95 %CI: 1.03, 1.10), Pinteraction = 0.008]. In addition, this study found disparities in modifying effects of water bodies and impervious areas in rural and urban settings. In rural regions, the associations between heat waves and CKD prevalence showed a consistent decreasing trend with increases in both proportions of water bodies and impervious areas (Pinteraction < 0.05). Nevertheless, in urban regions, we observed significant effect modification by water bodies, but not by impervious areas. Our study indicates the need for targeted land planning as part of adapting to the kidney impacts of heat waves, with a focus on urbanization in rural regions, as well as water body construction and utilization in both rural and urban regions.

Bidirectional modification effects on nonlinear associations of summer temperature and air pollution with first-ever stroke morbidity

High temperature and air pollution may induce stroke morbidity. However, whether associations between high temperature and air pollution with stroke morbidity are modified by each other is still unclear. Data on 23,578 first-ever stroke patients in Shenzhen, China, during the summers of 2014-2018 were collected. Distributed lag nonlinear models were used to assess the modifying effects of air pollution stratified by the median for the associations between summer temperature and stroke morbidity at 0-3 lag days; modifying effects of temperature stratified by the minimum morbidity temperature on the associations between air pollution and stroke morbidity at the same lags were also estimated. The attributable risks of high temperature and high pollution on stroke morbidity were quantified. Stratified analyses of gender, age, migration type, and complication type were conducted to assess vulnerable population characteristics. Summer high temperature may induce stroke morbidity at high-level PM2.5, PM10, O3, SO2, and NO2 conditions, with attributable fraction (AF) of 2.982% (95% empirical confidence interval [eCI]: 0.943, 4.929), 3.113% (0.948, 5.200), 2.841% (0.943, 4.620), 3.617% (1.539, 5.470), and 2.048% (0.279, 3.637), respectively. High-temperature effects were statistically insignificant at corresponding low-level air pollution conditions. High-level PM2.5, PM10, and O3 may induce stroke morbidity at high-temperature conditions, with AF of 3.664% (0.036, 7.196), 4.129% (0.076, 7.963), and 4.574% (1.009, 7.762), respectively. High-level PM2.5, PM10, and O3 were not associated with stroke morbidity at low-temperature conditions. The effects of high temperature and high pollution on stroke morbidity were statistically significant among immigrants and patients with hypertension, dyslipidemia, or diabetes but insignificant among natives and patients without complications. The associations of summer temperature and air pollution with first-ever stroke morbidity may be enhanced bidirectionally. Publicity on the health risks of combined high temperature and high pollution events should be strengthened to raise protection awareness of relevant vulnerable populations.

Associations Between Ambient Extreme Heat Exposure and Emergency Department Visits Related to Kidney Disease

RATIONALE & OBJECTIVE

Extreme heat exposure is associated with multiple diseases. However, our current understanding of the specific impact of extreme heat exposure on kidney disease is limited.

STUDY DESIGN

Case-crossover study.

SETTING & PARTICIPANTS

1,114,322 emergency department (ED) visits with a principal diagnosis of kidney disease were identified in New York state, 2005-2013.

EXPOSURE

Extreme heat exposure was defined as when the daily temperature exceeded the 90th percentile temperature of that month during the study period in the county.

OUTCOME

ED visits with a principal diagnosis of kidney disease and its subtypes (ICD-9 [International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision] codes 580-599, 788).

ANALYTICAL APPROACH

Extreme heat exposure on the ED visit days was compared with extreme heat exposure on control days using a conditional logistic regression model, controlling for humidity, air pollutants, and holidays. The excess risk of kidney disease was calculated for a week (lag days 0-6) after extreme heat exposure during the warm season (May through September). We also stratified our estimates by sociodemographic characteristics.

RESULTS

Extreme heat exposure was associated with a 1.7% (lag day 0) to 3.1% (lag day 2) higher risk of ED visits related to kidney disease; this association was stronger with a greater number of extreme heat exposure days in the previous week. The association with extreme heat exposure lasted for an entire week and was stronger in the transitional months (ie, May and September; excess rates ranged from 1.8% to 5.1%) rather than the summer months (June through August; excess rates ranged from 1.5% to 2.7%). The strength of association was greater among those with ED visits related to acute kidney injury, kidney stones, and urinary tract infections. Age and sex may modify the association between extreme heat exposure and ED visits.

LIMITATIONS

Individual exposure to heat-how long people were outside or whether they had access to air conditioning-was unknown.

CONCLUSIONS

Extreme heat exposure was significantly associated with a dose-dependent greater risk of ED visits for kidney disease.