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. 2014 Oct 7;9(10):1692-700.
doi: 10.2215/CJN.01680214. Epub 2014 Aug 4.

Familial clustering of ESRD in the Norwegian population

Rannveig Skrunes  1 , Einar Svarstad  2 , Anna Varberg Reisæter  3 , Bjørn Egil Vikse  4
Affiliations

Familial clustering of ESRD in the Norwegian population

Rannveig Skrunes et al. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. .

Abstract

Background and objectives: Studies and clinical experience suggest that kidney disease clusters in families, but few population-based studies have been performed. This study investigates risks and causes of ESRD in Norwegians with and without a first-degree relative with ESRD.

Design, setting, participants, & measurements: On the basis of data from the Norwegian Population Registry, first-degree relatives for most Norwegians were identified. All Norwegians with ESRD (defined as chronic RRT) since 1980 have been registered in the Norwegian Renal Registry. All Norwegians born in Norway who were alive in 1980 and had at least one registered relative were included. For this study, data on ESRD were available through 2009, and individuals without ESRD were censored at December 31, 2009. Data were analyzed in a cohort design, with ESRD in a first-degree relative of the included person as the main explanatory variable. Risks of ESRD and different causes of ESRD were analyzed using Cox regression statistics.

Results: In total, 5,119,134 individuals were included, of whom 8203 individuals developed ESRD during follow-up and 27,046 individuals had a first-degree relative with ESRD. Compared with individuals without a first-degree relative with ESRD, individuals with a first-degree relative with ESRD had a relative risk of ESRD of 7.2 (95% confidence interval, 6.5 to 8.1). Similar analyses showed that relative risk of ESRD caused by nonhereditary causes was 3.7 (95% confidence interval, 3.1 to 4.4), relative risk of ESRD caused by glomerular disease was 5.2 (95% confidence interval, 4.1 to 6.6), relative risk of ESRD caused by interstitial disease was 4.7 (95% confidence interval, 3.1 to 7.3), relative risk of ESRD caused by diabetic nephropathy was 2.6 (95% confidence interval, 1.6 to 4.1), and relative risk of ESRD caused by hypertensive nephrosclerosis was 2.6 (95% confidence interval, 1.6 to 4.1). Relative risk of nonhereditary parenchymal renal disease was 3.8 (95% confidence interval, 3.1 to 4.7).

Conclusions: As expected, ESRD clusters in families. Interestingly, ESRD without known hereditary cause also clusters in families.

Keywords: ESRD; family history; nephrology.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Number of individuals born in Norway per birth year and whether they have ESRD themselves and/or first-degree relatives with ESRD.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Cumulative risk of ESRD at increasing age according to whether a first-degree relative had ESRD. CI, confidence interval; RR, relative risk.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Cumulative risk of nonhereditary ESRD at increasing age according to whether a first-degree relative had ESRD.
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Cumulative probability of death at increasing age according to whether a first-degree relative had ESRD.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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