Hemodialysis causes around 3.7 tons of CO₂ per patient per year
Hemodialysis in Germany has a considerable impact on the climate. An average of 3.7 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents are produced per person treated per year. This is shown by a recent study by the German Society of Nephrology (DGfN) with the participation of its commission “Climate, Environment and Kidneys”.
According to the paper, the main causes are material production, disposable waste, high energy and water consumption as well as transport routes. Individual efficiency measures such as photovoltaics or adapted dialysis regimes can only reduce emissions by about 9 percent. Even in a theoretical best-case scenario with more home dialysis and optimized in-center dialysis, the reduction is a maximum of 38 percent.
According to the study, peritoneal dialysis (peritoneal dialysis at home) is much more climate-friendly: It causes only 1.4 to 2.2 tons of CO₂ per year. However, the greatest lever for climate protection lies in avoiding the need for dialysis: prevention, early detection of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and a higher transplant rate. Each avoided dialysis obligation saves 3.7 tons of CO₂ per year. A ten percent increase in the transplant rate would save about 800 tons of CO₂ annually nationwide.
Efficiency increases in dialysis are important, but not enough, said Professor Dr. Sylvia Stracke, press spokeswoman for the DGfN. After all, the most sustainable dialysis is the one that is not necessary in the first place.
The DGfN therefore demands:
- Greater promotion of home dialysis and kidney transplantation
- Expansion of prevention and early detection of chronic kidney disease
- Integration of sustainability criteria into compensation and guidelines
The study was published just in time for World Kidney Day and underlines that climate protection and kidney health are closely related.
Original Paper:
Editor: X-Press Journalistenbüro GbR
Gender Notice. The personal designations used in this text always refer equally to female, male and diverse persons. Double/triple naming and gendered designations are used for better readability. ected.
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