Ambient Temperature and Risk of Renal Colic: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Authors

• Hoimonty Mazumder, School of Public Health
• Easter Protiva Gain, School of Public Health
• Monir Hossain Shimul, Daffodil International University
• Faizah Farah, School of Public Health
• Naznin Alam, School of Public Health
• Xichen Mou, School of Public Health
• Fawaz Mzayek, School of Public Health
• Chunrong Jia, School of Public Health
• Matthew P. Smeltzer, School of Public Health
• Hongmei Zhang, School of Public Health
• Howard H. Chang, Rollins School of Public Health
• Robert Lowell Davis, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine
• Joshua S. Fu, Tickle College of Engineering
• Csaba P. Kovesdy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center
• M. Mahbub Hossain, Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine
• Abu Mohd Naser, School of Public Health

Abstract

Rationale & Objectives: Extreme ambient temperatures have been associated with a higher risk of acute and chronic health outcomes, including cardiovascular, respiratory, infectious, and kidney diseases. However, there is a lack of synthesized comprehensive evidence regarding the association of ambient temperature and renal colic in existing literature. Study Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis of epidemiological studies. Setting & Population: Population of any geographic areas regardless of their age, sex/gender, ethnicity, or any other population characteristics. Selection Criteria for Studies: We conducted literature searches in PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL complete, Web of Sciences, and additional sources until June 4, 2024, following the Population-Exposure-Comparator-Outcome (PECO) framework. Exposure: Daily ambient temperature. Outcomes: Confirmed cases of renal colic, including its underlying causes, such as kidney stone/nephrolithiasis or urolithiasis, urinary tract infection, and pyelonephritis, etc. Data Extraction: Two investigators performed data extraction to ensure data consistency and quality. Analytical Approach: Random-effects meta-analyses using the DerSimonian and Laird method. Results: Of 982 initially retrieved articles, we included 26 articles in the systematic review, of which 23 were eligible for the heat effect meta-analysis and 7 were included in the cold effect meta-analysis. Despite high heterogeneity, the result showed a 2.4% higher risk of renal colic for 1°C higher daily ambient temperature (Cohen's d, 0.013 [95% CI, 0.010-0.015]; RR, 1.024 [95% CI, 1.020-1.028]; I², 99.7%, P <0.001). For a 1 °C lower daily ambient temperature, the risk of renal colic was 1.5% (Cohen's d, 0.008 [95% CI: –0.000 to 0.016]; RR, 1.015 [95% CI, 1.000-1.029]; I², 73.2%; P > 0.05), although not statistically significant. Limitations: Limitations of this systematic review include high heterogeneity and publication bias. Conclusions: Elevated daily ambient temperature is associated with the risk of renal colic, suggesting an adverse effect of high ambient temperature on kidney function. Registration: PROSPERO registration number: CRD420245555 Plain-language Summary: Ambient temperature is a risk factor for acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease but evidence on its role in renal colic has not been explored. We conducted a meta-analysis including 26 studies to evaluate the heat and cold effect of ambient temperature on renal colic risk. We found that high ambient temperature increases the risk of renal colic, particularly kidney stone related to colic. In contrast, cold temperatures showed a statistically nonsignificant smaller increase in renal colic risk.

Publication Title

Kidney Medicine

Recommended Citation

Mazumder, H., Gain, E., Shimul, M., Farah, F., Alam, N., Mou, X., Mzayek, F., Jia, C., Smeltzer, M., Zhang, H., Chang, H., Davis, R., Fu, J., Kovesdy, C., Hossain, M., & Naser, A. (2026). Ambient Temperature and Risk of Renal Colic: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Kidney Medicine, 8 (1) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xkme.2025.101179