Kidney Disease: A Population-Based Polish Nationwide Study

Abstract

Statistics on the prevalence of renal disease unequivocally indicate a systematic increase in the number of patients with confirmed renal failure. Patients visit specialists being already in advanced stage of the disease, the most often they are referred to a nephrology centre prior to the previous hospitalization. Due to lack of system solutions in the form of the wide accessibility to dietary consultations during the conservative treatment period those patients often follow a diet inadequate to their needs and metabolic status that are frequently associated with coexisting diseases. This has a negative effect on their nutritional status and influences the disease progression. There is a pronounced correlation between the progression of the kidney damage and decrease in quality of life indicators. This is most evident in the group of dialysis patients. Experts — in a comment to the study — indicate the reasons and envisaged consequences of the existing model of care and recognise adequate nutrition and educational strategies as one of the key factors resulting in development of nephroprotective activities which may have measurable and positive impact on patient quality of life and reducing the number of patients with end-stage renal disease.