Health Literacy to Prevent Chronic Kidney Diseases
A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Infectious Diseases, Chronic Diseases, and Disease Prevention".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2024 | Viewed by 374
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The global prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is estimated at 9.1% for all ages, and the prevalence among US adults is over 15%. CKD is described as the presence of kidney damage, demonstrated by abnormal albumin excretion or decreased kidney function; it is quantified by estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and leads to end-stage kidney fibrosis. Anemia and dysregulated mineral metabolism are common complications observed in patients with CKD. Anemia is mainly caused by the inability of damaged kidneys to produce adequate amounts of erythropoietin, and imbalanced dietary intake leads to dysregulated mineral metabolism (phosphate and calcium) associated with higher risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Current studies suggesting that the number CKD patients will continue to rise, reflecting the growing elderly population and increasing number of patients with diabetes and hypertension. Health literacy is defined as a patient’s ability to understand, approach, interpret, and use their health-related information to manage and improve their health condition. In general populations, limited understanding of health literacy may reduce the ability of CKD patients to understand their disease and lead to difficulty in managing medications, dietary intake, and physical activity, resulting in poorer overall health, increased mortality, and less-efficient use of health services.
The existence of a social economic position of health literacy, whereby those with low socioeconomic status also tend to have low health literacy promotes health inequity. Patients with CKD may need to receive dialysis, and those preparing for transplantation or living with a kidney transplant are required to manage comorbidities, complex medications, dietary changes, the limited flexibility of dialysis treatment schedules and frequent hospital visits. These activities require health navigation skills, the ability to gain health knowledge, motivation, and problem-solving abilities, all of which are components of personal health literacy. Engaging in self-care activity and developing an understanding of chronic health conditions/health literacy differences may prevent the progression of chronic kidney disease in patients and improve their health care services.
Dr. Komuraiah Myakala
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- chronic kidney disease
- health literacy
- socioeconomic health status
- aging population
- kidney disease progression
- prevention of kidney disease
