Abstract: FR-PO0858
Association Between Air Pollutants and the Risk of Primary Glomerulonephritis
Session Information
- Glomerular Outcomes: From Proteinuria to Prognosis
November 07, 2025 | Location: Exhibit Hall, Convention Center
Abstract Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Category: Glomerular Diseases
- 1402 Glomerular Diseases: Clinical, Outcomes, and Therapeutics
Authors
- Wang, Kuan-Chieh, National Taiwan University Hospital Yunlin Branch, Yunlin County, Taiwan
- Chang, Fan-Chi, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei City, Taiwan
Background
Recent studies have demonstrated that air pollution is linked to the deterioration of kidney function and an increased risk of developing chronic kidney disease. However, there is still limited knowledge about the association between air pollution and primary glomerulonephritis. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of air pollutants on the risk of primary glomerulonephritis.
Methods
Renal biopsy data were collected from medical centers in northern, central, southern and eastern Taiwan between January 2021 and June 2023. Transplanted kidney biopsies and those with inadequate specimen for pathological diagnosis were excluded. Air pollution data between 2021 and 2023 were collected from Taiwan Air Quality-Monitoring Database. The data included the annual average of air quality index (AQI), as well as concentrations of various gaseous pollutants and particulate matters measured at the general air quality monitoring stations across each administrative district. Patients were categorized based on their residential areas into northern, central, southern and eastern Taiwan. Air pollution data were averaged across the counties and cities within each of these regional groups. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to assess the odds ratios for primary glomerulonephritis and each specific subtypes, stratified by quartiles of air pollutant concentrations.
Results
A total of 4,998 biopsies were included in the analysis. Comparing the highest to the lowest quartile, the odds of developing primary glomerulonephritis increased with higher concentrations of ozone (Odds ratio [OR] 1.715, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.337-2.200, P <0.001). As for specific subtypes of primary glomerulonephritis, there is a significant increase in the odds of minimal change disease (MCD) across quartiles of fine particular matter (OR 1.471, 95% CI 1.018-2.126, P=0.04), ozone (OR 2.037, 95% CI 1.320-3.143, P=0.001), 8-hour moving average of ozone (OR 1.641, 95% CI 1.135-2.374, P=0.008), and methane (OR 1.538, 95% CI 1.101-2.148, P=0.012).
Conclusion
Our study revealed that exposure to higher concentrations of ozone increases the risk of primary glomerulonephritis and MCD. Additionally, higher concentrations of fine particular matter and methane are associated with an increased risk of MCD.
Funding
- Government Support – Non-U.S.