In a new study, Korean researchers found that exposure to secondhand smoke is linked to a higher risk of chronic kidney disease.
It is known that secondhand smoke is linked to many health issues. However, their effects on kidney health are unclear.
The research was conducted by researchers from Yonsei University and Inha University, Korea.
In the current study, the team examined the link between secondhand smoke exposure and chronic kidney disease in people who had never smoked.
They examined 131,196 never-smokers who participated in the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study from 2001 to 2014.
These people were divided into three groups based on their exposure to secondhand smoke: no-exposure, less than 3 days of exposure per week, and 3 or more days of exposure per week.
The researchers found participants in the second and third groups had 1.48-times and 1.44-times higher risks of having chronic kidney disease compared with the first group.
In addition, the team examined the risk of getting a new diagnosis of chronic kidney disease in 1,948 participants.
They found the risk for developing the disease was 59% and 66% higher in the second and the third group.
The researchers suggest that secondhand smoke exposure at home or in the workplace is still quite common.
The findings support public smoking restriction policies and educational programs about the harmful effects of secondhand smoke.
This may help protect people from chronic kidney disease and other health issues.
The authors of the study are Jung Tak Park, MD, Ph.D., and Jong Hyun Jhee, MD.
The study is published in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (CJASN).
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