Aims: To determine links between birth related factors and end-stage renal disease (ESRD).
Methods: This 1:3 age, sex, and source population (registered Indians [SkRI] and other Saskatchewan people [OSkP]) matched case-control study, compared maternal age and parity, gestational age, low birth weight (LBW), and high birth weight (HBW), between subjects with and without ESRD.
Results: Of 1,162 subjects, 277 cases (48 SkRI and 229 OSkP) and 601 controls (112 SkRI and 489 OSkP) had birth weight information. A trend for increased LBW rates occurred among SkRI and OSkP cases compared to controls (10.4 vs. 5.3% and 6.6 vs. 4.3%), and was significant for OSkP female cases (OR 3.66; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.05, 12.73). Higher HBW rates occurred in SkRI cases (14.6% compared to 11.6% controls; N/S), and 3/5 female SkRI diabetic ESRD (DESRD) cases were over 3,750 g compared to 1/14 controls (p < 0.05). Only maternal age >/=30 years was an independent predictor for ESRD, particularly for OSkP non-DESRD cases (OR 2.45; 95% CI 1.03, 5.8). Cases with older mothers had lower mean birth weights than controls (3,236 vs. 3,434 g; p = 0.005).
Conclusions: Older maternal age may predispose offspring to ESRD through mechanisms that differ for DESRD versus non-DESRD, and that may relate to ethnicity.
Copyright 2003 S. Karger AG, Basel