[Health Information] What should chronic kidney disease patients watch for in extreme heat?

 [Hospital News = reporter Jung Yun-sik] With a record heatwave continuing, St. Peter's Hospital has set out kidney health rules for patients with chronic kidney disease.

As this is a season when heat and dehydration raise the risk of kidney disease, the hospital urged particular care with fruit and fluid intake.

Korea has one of the highest rates of chronic kidney disease in the world, with one in every 7 to 8 people affected.

Total annual medical costs for the disease also exceeded 2.83 trillion won as of 2024, third highest among single diseases.

In particular, according to an announcement by the Korea National Institute of Health and the Korean Society of Nephrology, Korean patients with chronic kidney disease have about a 1.66 times higher risk of declining kidney function than patients in the US CRIC cohort, and are also more likely to progress to end-stage renal disease.

Lee Ji-yeon, Chief of Nephrology at St. Peter's Hospital, explained, “In people with chronic kidney disease, seasonal risk factors overlap in complex ways, so the risk of declining kidney function in summer is also more likely to increase.”

Chronic kidney disease is diagnosed when kidney function declines continuously for three months or more, or when damage is confirmed.

As the stage advances, it brings a range of conditions including cardiovascular complications, and once it progresses to end-stage renal disease the mortality rate rises sharply.

The problem is that there are almost no noticeable early symptoms.

Chief Lee Ji-yeon said, “Most patients do not realize that their kidney function has fallen until protein is detected in a urine test or an abnormal finding shows up on imaging or other examinations,” adding, “If you have a major underlying condition such as diabetes or hypertension, more active testing and consistent management are essential.”

Summer heat waves place a direct burden on the kidneys.

Excessive heat causes dehydration and electrolyte imbalance, and the risk is compounded when the effects of medications such as diuretics are added.

Chief Lee warned, “Extreme heat can reduce blood flow to the kidneys through dehydration, and this raises the risk of acute kidney injury and can worsen the symptoms of chronic kidney disease,” adding, “Meta-analyses have in fact reported that in high-temperature environments the risk of kidney disease and of related hospital admissions and emergency room visits increases by about 30%.”

Dietary habits must also be managed carefully.

Summer fruits high in potassium, such as Korean melon, watermelon and bananas, can cause hyperkalemia, so intake should be moderated.

Limit juice, sports drinks, caffeine and alcohol, and avoid excessive salt intake of more than 5g a day.

Fluid intake also calls for care.

Sweating more makes thirst easy to feel, but excessive fluid intake can in fact place a burden on the kidneys.

Rather than drinking a large amount of water at once, it is recommended to drink smaller amounts several times over the course of the day.

Chief Lee noted, “Patients with chronic kidney disease must be more careful than anyone about dehydration and declining kidney function in summer,” adding, “Rather than simply drinking water or taking restorative foods, they need to discuss the matter with their medical team and manage their condition carefully, taking their own kidney function and disease status into account.”

She added, “If dehydration persists, or symptoms such as a change in urine volume or colour or extreme fatigue appear, you should consult a specialist immediately.”

Source: Hospital News (http://www.khanews.com)