Toward a Greener Healthcare: Unveiling the Carbon Costs of Dialysis in China and the Path to Sustainability

Abstract Background The healthcare sector plays a significant role in greenhouse gas emissions, hospitals contributed about 5.2% of the global carbon footprint, totaling 10.8 billion tons. It highlights China’s healthcare emissions and the potential benefits of energy-efficient technologies in medical settings, including different dialysis treatments. The healthcare sector, a major emissions source, could reduce its impact through sustainable practices. Methods This retrospective cross-sectional study evaluated the annual carbon footprint of patients undergoing haemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD). We analyzed demographic characteristics and carbon consumption across both groups, distinguishing the environmental impacts of HD and PD. Linear regression models were used to identify factors influencing carbon emissions. Results The study included 271 dialysis patients, comprising 143 HD and 128 PD cases. The annual carbon footprints of HD and PD were 3063.1 kg CO2-eq and 436.4 kg CO2-eq, respectively. For HD, the largest contributors to carbon emissions were equipment power consumption (43%) and medical consumables (23%), while for PD, discharge medication (49%) and medical supplies (48%) dominated. The carbon footprint of HD remained stable at 2500–3500 kg CO2-eq per year, while PD ranged from 200–800 kg CO2-eq per year, with no significant changes over extended dialysis periods. Factors such as age, occupation, and geographical location showed varying effects on the carbon footprints of HD and PD. Conclusions This study offers a framework for quantifying ecological benefits from optimized clinical pathways. The findings suggest that promoting peritoneal dialysis could significantly reduce the healthcare sector’s carbon footprint, advancing efforts toward sustainability and environmentally responsible healthcare delivery.