Increase in the global burden of chronic kidney disease: might it be attributable to air pollution?

Air pollution is an emerging etiology of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Evidence regarding this causative relationship has been shown by several studies. Recently, Lin et al. conducted the first community-based study investigating the association between CKD prevalence and air pollutant levels utilizing a Fuzzy Logic Interference model. Despite the study's limitations, the results correlate with the previous meta-analysis and observational studies. Higher fine particular matter (PM2.5) levels are associated with the increased global burden of CKD and may also influence the unequal distribution of burden in low-to-middle income countries. Despite growing evidence of the association of air pollution with CKD risk, the underlying pathophysiology has yet to be fully understood. Future studies investigating the pathophysiology and efficiency of the potential therapeutic and preventive measures against air pollution-related kidney injury are required to reduce the CKD burden.