Epidemiology of childhood chronic kidney diseases

Abstract

Major advances have been made in the management of children with chronic kidney disease (CKD) over the past 30 years. However, existing epidemiological data mainly relies on registries of chronic kidney replacement therapy. The incidence and prevalence of earlier stages of CKD remain largely unknown, but rare population-based studies suggest that the prevalence of all stages CKD may be as high as 1 % of the pediatric population. Congenital disorders including renal hypodysplasia and uropathy (CAKUT) and hereditary nephropathies account for one-half to two-thirds of childhood CKD cases in high-income countries, whereas acquired nephropathies predominate in developing countries. CKD progression is slower in children with congenital disorders than in those with glomerular nephropathy, and other risk factors for progression have also been identified. Children with CKD have poorer health-related quality of life when compared to healthy children. While survival of children with CKD has continuously improved over time, mortality remains 20 to 30 times higher than in the general pediatric population.