Averting the Legacy of Kidney Disease: Focus On Childhood

Figures & data

Figure 1.  The types and risks of kidney disease change across the lifecycle.

The contribution of nephron number increases over the life cycle, in concert with events that provide direct insults and challenges to kidney health.

Table 1.  Definitions of stages of early life.

Perinatal period	22 completed weeks of gestation to day 7 of postnatal life
Neonatal period	Birth to day 28 of postnatal life
Infancy	Birth to 1 year of age
Childhood	1 year of age to 10 years of age
Adolescence	10 years of age to 19 years of age

The data in this table are as defined by the WHO. The perinatal period is defined as 22 completed weeks of gestation to day 7 of life; the neonatal period, as up to 28 days of life; infancy as up to 1 year of age; childhood as year 1–10; and adolescence from 10 to 19 years of age.

There is variation worldwide in how these stages of early life are defined. Some would define ‘young people’ as those age 24 or less. In the USA, childhood is as a whole is defined up to the age of 21 years.

Table 2.  Etiology of chronic kidney disease in children.

CKD		ESRD
Etiology	Percentage (range)	Etiology	Percentage (range)
CAKUT	48–59%	CAKUT	34–43%
GN	5–14%	GN	15–29%
HN	10–19%	HN	12–22%
HUS	2–6%	HUS	2–6%
Cystic	5–9%	Cystic	6–12%
Ischemic	2–4%	Ischemic	2%

Rare causes include congenital NS, metabolic diseases, cystinosis. Miscellaneous causes depend on how such entities are classified.

CAKUT: Congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract; GN: Glomerulonephritis; HN: Hereditary nephropathy; HUS: Hemolytic uremic syndrome.

From Harambat et al. CKD data are from NAPRTCS, the Italian Registry and the Belgian Registry. ESRD data are from ANZDATA, ESPN/ERA-EDTA, UK Renal Registry and the Japanese Registry.