title: End-stage renal disease in Taiwan: a case-control study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Taiwan has the highest incidence of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in the world. The epidemiologic features of ESRD, however, have not been investigated. In this case-control study, we evaluated the risk of ESRD associated with a number of putative risk factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied 200 patients among whom ESRD had been newly diagnosed between 1 January 2005 and 31 December 2005; 200 controls were selected from among relatives of patients treated in the general surgery unit. Using a structured questionnaire, we collected information related to socioeconomic factors, history of disease, regular blood or urine screening, lifestyle, environmental exposure, consumption of vitamin supplements, and regular drug use at 5 years before disease onset.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our primary multivariate risk models indicated that low socioeconomic status was a strong predictor of ESRD (education: odds ratio [OR], 2.78; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.49-5.19; income: OR, 2.86, 95% CI, 1.48-5.52), even after adjusting for other risk factors. Other significant predictors for ESRD were a history of hypertension (OR, 3.63-3.90), history of diabetes (OR, 3.85-5.50), and regular intake of folk remedies or over-the-counter Chinese herbs (OR, 10.84-12.51). Regular intake of a multivitamin supplement 5 years before diagnosis was associated with a decreased risk of ESRD (OR, 0.12-0.14).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings indicate that low socioeconomic status, history of hypertension, diabetes, and regular use of folk remedies or over-the-counter Chinese herbs were significant risk factors for ESRD, while regular intake of a multivitamin supplement was associated with a decreased risk of ESRD.
authors: Department of Health Management, I-Shou University, Yanchao Township, Kaohsiung County, Taiwan (R.O.C.). sytsai@isu.edu.tw
authors: Su-Ying
authors: SY
authors: Tsai
authors: Hung-Fu
authors: HF
authors: Tseng
authors: Hsiu-Fen
authors: HF
authors: Tan
authors: Yu-Shu
authors: YS
authors: Chien
authors: Chia-Chu
authors: CC
authors: Chang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003710:Demography; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal