Su G, Iwagami M, Qin X, et al. - Since there exists inconsistent evidence on the link between the presence of kidney disease and the risk of mortality among patients with respiratory tract infections (RTIs), researchers analyzed cohort as well as case–control studies examining the presence of kidney disease (defined as medical diagnosis of kidney disease, reduced estimated glomerular filtration rate or creatinine clearance, high serum creatinine and proteinuria) on death in adults with RTIs in diverse settings including community, inpatient and intensive care units. These studies were identified from PubMed, Cochrane Library and Embase databases. They identified 5,362 records. Of those, 18 investigations with 16,676 participants satisfied the inclusion criteria, with 15 studies inquiring pneumonia and 3 studies investigating influenza. Findings revealed higher mortality related to the presence of kidney disease among individuals with RTIs, particularly in those with pneumonia. When contemplating admission for patients who present with RTIs, the presence of kidney disease might be considered.