Background: In previous reports of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients, family history of ESRD was associated with race, younger age, higher education levels and ESRD etiology. This study aimed to analyze how often Polish caucasian dialysis patients reported relatives with ESRD, and to evaluate which risk factors are associated with family history of ESRD.
Methods: 4808 ESRD patients provided data about renal disease etiology, diabetes and hypertensive status of first- and second-degree relatives, socioeconomic status and education level.
Results: Reported ESRD etiologies were: chronic glomerular disease, 19.4 %; diabetic nephropathy, 11.3%; interstitial nephritris, 11.2%; hypertension, 7.8%; polycystic kidney disease (PKD), 7.1%; other or no response, 40.0%. Positive ESRD family history was reported by 745 patients (15.5%); positive history of diabetes, 932 (19.4%); hypertension, 1904 (39%). Positive ESRD family history according to kidney disease etiology was: PKD, 53.1%; glomerulonephritis, 12%; diabetic nephropathy, 11.9%; hypertension, 11.8%; interstitial nephritis, 10.8%. PKD as ESRD etiology (odds ratio (OR) 8.06, 95% confidence interval (CI) 6.35-10.23, p < 0.0001), positive family history of diabetes (OR 1.64, 95% CI 1.34-1.99, p < 0.0001) and positive history of hypertension (OR 1.64, 95% CI 1.39-1.95, p < 0.0001), were independently associated with positive ESRD history. Patients with later ESRD onset had a less frequent positive ESRD family history: for ESRD < 45 yrs, 16% (OR 1.0); 45-64 yrs, 14.4% (OR 0.83, 95% CI 0.70-0.99); > or = 65 yrs, 9.2 % (OR 0.5, 95% CI 0.35-0.72).
Conclusions: Results of our study strongly support the contention that familial predisposition contributes to ESRD development.