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Published on: June 16, 2014
Familial Contributions to the Association Between Low Birth Weight and Risk of CKD in Adult Life
Anna Gjerde1,2, Rannveig Skrunes1,3, Anna Varberg Reisæter4
1Department of Medicine, Haugesund Hospital, Haugesund, Norway.
Insights
Individuals with low birth weight (LBW) and those with a sibling with LBW have an increased risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Familial factors play a role in CKD risk associated with birth weight.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Epidemiology
- Genetics
Background:
- Low birth weight (LBW) is linked to higher chronic kidney disease (CKD) risk.
- Both LBW and CKD exhibit familial clustering, suggesting shared risk factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the influence of familial factors on the association between birth-related risk markers and CKD risk.
- To analyze how sibling LBW status modifies an individual's CKD risk.
Main Methods:
- Utilized Norwegian registry data (Medical Birth Registry, Population Registry, Patient Registry) from 1967 onwards.
- Linked individual and sibling birth data with CKD diagnoses.
- Employed logistic regression to assess CKD risk based on personal and sibling LBW status.
Main Results:
- Individuals with a sibling experiencing LBW had a 1.33-fold increased CKD risk (aOR 1.33).
- Individuals with personal LBW showed a 1.74-fold increased CKD risk (aOR 1.74).
- Combined personal LBW and a sibling with LBW resulted in a 1.77-fold increased CKD risk (aOR 1.77).
Conclusions:
- Having a sibling with LBW increases an individual's later-life CKD risk.
- Personal LBW confers an even greater risk for developing CKD.
- Findings support the 'in utero' nephron endowment hypothesis, highlighting familial contributions to kidney development.
Introduction:
Previous studies have revealed that individuals with low birth weight (LBW) have higher risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and that LBW and CKD cluster in families. This study investigates how familial factors affect the association between birth-related risk markers and risk of CKD.
Methods:
The Medical Birth Registry (MBR) of Norway has registered all births in Norway since 1967. Sibling data were available through the Norwegian Population Registry. The Norwegian Patient Registry has registered diagnostic codes for all admissions and outpatient visits to Norwegian hospitals since 2008. Data from these registries were linked. Risk of CKD according to whether the individual himself or at least one of his siblings had LBW was analyzed using logistic regression statistics.
Results:
Of 1,847,565 individuals, 3336 had been diagnosed with CKD. Compared with individuals without LBW and no siblings with LBW, individuals without LBW but who had a sibling with LBW had adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of 1.33 (1.19-1.49), those with LBW but no siblings with LBW had aOR of 1.74 (1.55-1.95), and those with LBW and a sibling with LBW had aOR of 1.77 (1.54-2.04) for CKD. Similar results were found for LBW for gestational age, but preterm birth revealed weaker associations.
Conclusion:
Individuals who have a sibling with LBW have an increased risk of CKD later in life, and individuals who themselves have LBW have an even higher risk. Our findings suggest that there are familial contributions to the nephron endowment in utero hypothesis.
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