Journal of Advances in Medicine and Medical Research

Abstract

Genetic predisposition plays a key role in many forms of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). Family members of patients with advanced renal disease have been reported to have an increased prevalence of CKD. We sought to investigate the prevalence of CKD among first and second degree relatives of patients with CKD.

Methods: This was a hospital based descriptive cross sectional study. One hundred relatives of patients with advanced CKD as well as one hundred age and sex matched controls were recruited for the study. Glomerular filtration rate was estimated using the CKD-EPI formula. CKD was defined as eGFR < 60 mls/min/1.73m².

Results: A significantly higher prevalence of CKD was detected among relatives of patients with CKD (11%) compared with controls (6%). P-value <0.05. There were higher rates of hypertension, diabetes, use of herbal medications and non-steroidal anti inflammatory drugs as well as alcohol use in relatives of patients with CKD compared with controls.

Conclusion: This study has shown that relatives of patients with advanced CKD are at increased risk of developing CKD.