Risk Factors for Renal Failure: From Infancy to Adulthood

The incidence and progression of renal injury vary substantially among individuals who are at risk for kidney disease. Variability of risk for the occurrence and progression of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) suggests that biologically relevant characteristics may influence the occurrence or course of the renal disease. Prediction of increased risk of occurrence or progression of CKD may enable clinicians to identify individuals who may benefit from closer supervision of care or more intensive disease modifying interventions. Risk factors can be used to define at risk population that can be targeted for education and early intervention programs. These factors include familiarity of CKD, genetic factors, nephron number, low birth weight, perinatal programming, nutritional setting, hypertension and congenital abnormalities of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT) (Table 1).