Addressing the impact of climate change on people with kidney disease

The issue:Climate change poses a current and increasing threat to people’s health, especially for people living with kidney disease or other chronic conditions. Rising surface temperatures, more frequent extreme weather events and heat waves, increased flooding, and other effects from climate change have a significant impact on health outcomes. Studies have indicated that extreme heat and heat-related illness can lead to acute kidney injury (AKI). For people with CKD or ESRD, extreme heat events can exacerbate their kidney disease and increase their risk of hospitalization. More frequent and more intense weather events that result in flooding, power outages and infrastructure and property damage can disrupt the care of people on dialysis, who may miss their dialysis treatments and increase their risk of adverse health events.

To address the impact of climate change on health, especially the health of people living with kidney disease, AKF supports:

Federal efforts to work collaboratively with state, tribal, local, and territorial governments, community-based organizations, business and industry, and other stakeholders to address the health impacts of climate change.
The development of strategies, programs and actions plans for federal and local agencies to prepare for and respond to the public health effects of climate change.
Providing adequate resources to respond to the health impacts of climate change.
Promoting and elevating the patient voice as stakeholders work to address the impact of climate change on people’s health.