Chronic Kidney Disease

Polygenic risk

People who have high polygenic risk scores are 2 to 4 times more likely to get chronic kidney disease than are people who aren't in the high-risk category.

This estimate is based on data from people of African, European, and Hispanic or Latino ancestry. Information is lacking or not available for those of other ancestries.

For participants with a high polygenic risk score, recommendations include:

  • Provide guidance on leading a healthy lifestyle, including:
    • Get more physical activity.
    • Keep body mass index under 25.
    • Follow a low-salt diet, which means less than 2.3 grams of sodium a day.
    • Limit alcohol intake.
    • Stop smoking if the participant smokes.
    • Avoid nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, also known as NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) or naproxen sodium (Aleve, Naprelan, others).
    • Avoid herbal or bodybuilding supplements.
  • Check for high blood pressure.
  • Check serum creatinine for kidney function (eGFR).
  • Check hemoglobin A1C and fasting glucose for diabetes status.
  • Check urine test for proteinuria, which is a high level of protein in the urine. If the participant has proteinuria, check the urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio.

Family history

A participant has a family history of chronic kidney disease if one of their parents, full siblings or children has any of the following kidney diseases or has received the following treatments:

  • Alport syndrome.
  • Dialysis.
  • Kidney disease due to diabetes.
  • Kidney disease due to high blood pressure.
  • Kidney disease of unknown cause.
  • Kidney transplant.
  • Polycystic kidney.
  • Protein in the urine.
  • Single or malformed kidney.
  • Other kidney diseases.

For participants with a positive family history, recommendations include:

  • Provide guidance on leading a healthy lifestyle, including:
    • Get more physical activity.
    • Keep body mass index under 25.
    • Follow a low-salt diet, which means less than 2.3 grams of sodium a day.
    • Limit alcohol intake.
    • Stop smoking, if the participant smokes.
    • Avoid nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, also known as NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) or naproxen sodium (Aleve, Naprelan, others).
    • Avoid from herbal or bodybuilding supplements.
  • Check for high blood pressure.
  • Check serum creatinine for kidney function (eGFR).
  • Check hemoglobin A1C and fasting glucose for diabetes status.
  • Check urine test for proteinuria. If the participant has proteinuria, check the urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio.