European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE: A GROWING BURDEN ON PAKISTANI SOCIETY – A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Farah-Saeed*, Mansoor Ahmad, Kausar Perveen, Syed Mahboob Alam, Noor Jahan and Samitha Muhammad Ali

ABSTRACT

Objective: To measure the impact of chronic kidney disease on patients’ quality of life, to assess the burden associated with it on our health care system; and to bring awareness in general public to avoid chronic kidney disease and to identify symptoms and get screening done in earlier phase. Method: Questionnaires were designed to assess the knowledge of undergraduates, patients’ perspective and clinicians approach for the diagnosis and treatment of chronic kidney disease and were implemented on patients, clinicians and students. Patients’ quality of life was assessed by using validated adaptation of the 36-Items Short Form Survey (SF-36) and the Kidney Disease Quality of Life Instrument (KDQOL). Clinicians questionnaire consist of 16 questions concerning their knowledge and treatment approach towards treating chronic kidney disease. Questionnaire consisting of 12 questions was implemented on under-graduate medical and pharmacy students to check their awareness of chronic kidney disease, renal replacement therapy and effects of end-stage renal disease on quality of life of patients. Results: The filled questionnaires of patients, clinicians and students were interpreted carefully and they revealed significant observations. Conclusion: Our study exposed that the quality of life of patients is affected by the gradual advancement of chronic kidney disease to end-stage renal failure. Therefore effective preventive measures along with proper treatment of co-morbidities associated with renal disorder at earlier stage of chronic kidney disease may help in stopping renal failure progression to end-stage renal disease. Our study showed that the undergraduate students had good knowledge of chronic renal disease, dialysis and quality of life of patients. There is need of enhancing their information by arranging nephrologists lectures and encouraging them to attend seminars concerning chronic kidney disease in order to update their knowledge to become responsible professionals to serve the ailing society.

Keywords: End-stage renal disease, hypertension, diabetes, dialysis.