Smoking status, cadmium, and chronic kidney disease

Abstract

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects 10% of the general population in Western countries. Currently, CKD cannot be cured and there are only few strategies to prevent the onset of CKD, to reverse early stages of CKD, and to prevent the progression of established CKD to end-stage kidney disease. Cigarette smoking is a preventable cause of CKD. Methods: This narrative review analyses the cause–effect relationship between cigarette smoking and CKD and discusses the association of inhaled cadmium and smoking-induced kidney damage. Results: Cigarette smoking places individuals at risk for incident CKD. It accelerates the progression (decline in glomerular filtration rate, aggravation of proteinuria) of CKD to end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), and is associated with shortened kidney transplant graft survival. These harmful effects on kidney function/structure are dependent on the dose and duration of cigarette smoking. Smoking abstinence decreases the higher risk for proteinuria and CKD progression. Inhaled cadmium may be the biologic link between cigarette smoking and kidney dysfunction. Recent studies indicate that accumulation of cadmium in the blood mediates progression of CKD and places smokers at higher risk for all-cause mortality. Conclusions: Smoking cessation is an effective intervention to reduce the risk of onset and progression of CKD as well as to reduce smoking-attributable morbidity and mortality.