Abstract:
Background: Climate change is a signi cant threat to the health of the Ghanaian people. Evidence
abounds in Ghana that temperatures in all the ecological zones are rising, whereas rainfall levels have
been generally reducing and patterns are increasingly becoming erratic. The study estimated the impact
of climate variation between seasons on biochemical markers of renal disease.
Methods: This study conveniently recruited 50 apparently healthy peasant farmers and hawkers at Wa in
the Upper West Region of Ghana. A pre-study screening for hepatitis A and C, Diabetes mellitus,
hypertension was done. Serum creatinine and urea levels were analyzed to rule out kidney preexisting
renal disease . Baseline data was collected by estimating urea, creatinine, sodium, potassium, eGFR
(estimated glomerular ltration rate) as well as for hemoglobin (Hb) and hematocrit (Hct) concentrations.
Anthropometric data such as height, weight and blood pressure were measured by trained personnel. The
study participants were closely followed and alerted deep in the dry season for the second sampling
(urea, creatinine, hemoglobin, hematocrit, blood pressure, anthropometry)
Results: This study recruited more males (58.82%) than females (41.15%), majority (52.92%) of which
were aged 25-29 years with the youngest being 22 years and the eldest being 35 years. The study found
body mass index (p<0.001), systolic blood pressure (p=0.019), creatinine (p<0.001), urea (p=0.013) and
eGFR (p<0.001) to be signi cantly in uenced by climate change. Stage 1 hypertension was predominant
among the study participants during the dry season, 8 (15.69%) than was observed during the rainy
season, 4 (7.84%) nonetheless the number of participants with normal BMI rose from 49.02% in the rainy
season to 62.75% during the dry reason. Additionally, the study observed that the impact of climate
change on systolic blood pressure and urea varied based on age and sex.
Conclusion: This study revealed that climatic changes cause variations in various biochemical
parameters used to assess renal function. Public health education on climatic changes and its
implication including precautionary measures should be done among inhabitants of Wa and its environs
to reduce its effect. Additionally, appropriate dietary patterns should also be advised to avoid the
development of non-communicable diseases such as hypertension and obesity that are known principal
causes of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD).
