The incidence of the nephrotic syndrome in childhood in Germany

Clin Exp Nephrol. 2018 Feb;22(1):126-132. doi: 10.1007/s10157-017-1433-6. Epub 2017 Jun 22.

Abstract

Background: The incidence of childhood nephrotic syndrome (NS) in Germany is not well known.

Methods: An ESPED-based nationwide collection of epidemiological data of children in 2005 and 2006.

Result: The mean age of NS at onset was 5.5 ± 3.7 years. The gender ratio of boys to girls was 1.8:1. The average length of stay was 15.5 ± 11.2 days, with younger children remaining significantly longer in hospital. Steroid-resistance was more common in children ≥8 years (p = 0.023). Focal-segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) was more common in children >10 years (p = 0.029). The ratio of males to females with FSGS was 1:1.9, thus the FSGS risk for girls at onset was 3.3-times greater. Considering the available data, the incidence of NS in Germany is 1.2/100,000 in the population <18 years, of which 1.0/100,000 are steroid-sensitive.

Conclusion: Compared with international data, which primarily focused on regional and small populations, this is the largest study about the incidence of the childhood NS.

Keywords: Childhood; ESPED; Epidemiology; Incidence; Nephrotic syndrome.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Age Factors
  • Age of Onset
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Drug Resistance
  • Ethnicity
  • Female
  • Germany / epidemiology
  • Glomerulosclerosis, Focal Segmental / epidemiology
  • Glomerulosclerosis, Focal Segmental / etiology
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Infant
  • Length of Stay
  • Male
  • Nephrotic Syndrome / drug therapy
  • Nephrotic Syndrome / epidemiology*
  • Risk
  • Sex Factors
  • Steroids / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Steroids