Extreme ambient temperatures have been associated with a higher risk of acute and chronic health outcomes, including cardiovascular, respiratory, infectious, and kidney diseases. However, there is a lack of synthesized comprehensive evidence regarding the association of ambient temperature and renal colic in existing literature.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of epidemiological studies.

Population of any geographic areas regardless of their age, sex/gender, ethnicity, or any other population characteristics.

We conducted literature searches in PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL complete, Web of Sciences, and additional sources until June 4, 2024, following the Population-Exposure-Comparator-Outcome (PECO) framework.

Daily ambient temperature.

Confirmed cases of renal colic, including its underlying causes, such as kidney stone/nephrolithiasis or urolithiasis, urinary tract infection, and pyelonephritis, etc.

Two investigators performed data extraction to ensure data consistency and quality.

Random-effects meta-analyses using the DerSimonian and Laird method.

Of 982 initially retrieved articles, we included 26 articles in the systematic review, of which 23 were eligible for the heat effect meta-analysis and 7 were included in the cold effect meta-analysis. Despite high heterogeneity, the result showed a 2.4% higher risk of renal colic for 1°C higher daily ambient temperature (Cohen’s d, 0.013 [95% CI, 0.010-0.015]; RR, 1.024 [95% CI, 1.020-1.028]; I2, 99.7%, P <0.001). For a 1 °C lower daily ambient temperature, the risk of renal colic was 1.5% (Cohen’s d, 0.008 [95% CI: –0.000 to 0.016]; RR, 1.015 [95% CI, 1.000-1.029]; I2, 73.2%; P > 0.05), although not statistically significant.

Limitations of this systematic review include high heterogeneity and publication bias.

Elevated daily ambient temperature is associated with the risk of renal colic, suggesting an adverse effect of high ambient temperature on kidney function.