Evaluation of the Etiology of Chronic Kidney Disease of Unknown Etiology Beyond Heat Stress: A Pakistani Perspective

Objective

Chronic kidney disease of unknown origin (CKDu) is emerging as an important public health problem in Pakistan, where conventional risk factors like diabetes and hypertension do not fully explain its rising prevalence. This review aims to analyze the multifactorial etiology of CKDu in the Pakistani context, stressing upon environmental and occupational exposures beyond the widely discussed heat stress hypothesis. Methodology: The PRISMA 2020 guidelines were followed. Studies were selected according to the PECO model to assess the relation of environmental pollution with CKD. Search was done through PubMed, Google Scholar, Pakmedinet, and Euromed. We included only English literature articles emphasizing the volume of these pollutants in Pakistan.