Using Chronic Kidney Disease as a Model Framework to Estimate Healthcare-Related Environmental Impact.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

While the economic and clinical burden of chronic diseases are well documented, their environmental impact remains poorly understood. We developed a framework to estimate the environmental impact of a disease care pathway using chronic kidney disease (CKD) as an example.

Methods

A life cycle assessment framework was developed for the CKD care pathway and validated by experts. Life cycle stages were characterised for resource utilisation based on a literature review and ecoinvent database inputs, in ten countries. The ReCiPe impact assessment method was used to calculate impacts across multiple environmental dimensions.

Results

At CKD stage 5, kidney replacement therapies (KRT) have highest impact; emissions ranged between 3.5 and 43.9 kg carbon dioxide eq

SUBMITTER: Garcia Sanchez JJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11782431 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature