A new study has found that a family history of diabetes, regardless of a person’s own diabetes status, raises the risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression, even when genetic predisposition and traditional risk factors are considered.
Researchers analysed data from two large CKD cohorts, including over 6,500 adults and children, to explore how family history of chronic conditions affects kidney health. While family history of kidney disease was not independently associated with disease progression in patients already diagnosed with CKD, a family history of diabetes significantly increased the risk of progression.
The observational study included participants from the Cure Glomerulopathy Network and the Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort. Using self-reported family histories and multivariable models, the researchers found that a first-degree family history of diabetes raised the risk of CKD progression by 19% (adjusted hazards ratio 1.19). This association held true even after accounting for whether the patient had diabetes, their polygenic risk score for the disease, and other risk factors.
Family history was also linked to greater risk of comorbidities in people with CKD, including over three times the odds of developing diabetes, a 69% increased risk of cardiovascular disease, and a 48% increased risk of cancer.
The findings suggest that collecting comprehensive family medical histories in CKD patients could improve risk assessment and guide more personalised care strategies.
Reference
Francesca Z et al. Family History in the Context of CKD. Journal of the American Society of Nephrology. 2025; DOI: 10.1681/ASN.0000000653.
