ASSESSMENT OF PUBLIC AWARENESS OF RISK FACTORS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF CHRONIC RENAL FAILURE

Background. Chronic renal disease is a significant problem for the healthcare systems of many countries, as its treatment requires significant economic costs. This problem is especially relevant since chronic renal failure is often diagnosed at late stages, when kidney dysfunction is already irreversible. One of the key measures to prevent chronic renal disease is raising public awareness of early symptoms and risk factors, which contributes to timely seeking of medical care. However, studies show that most people are insufficiently aware of risk factors such as smoking, poor diet, lack of physical activity, diabetes, gender, high blood pressure, cardiovascular diseases (including heart failure and previous heart attack), as well as increased stress levels and obesity. Increasing public awareness of these risks can be an important step in the prevention and early diagnosis of chronic renal disease. Purpose of the study. To determine the level of respondents’ awareness regarding the risk factors contributing to the development of chronic kidney failure. Materials and methods. The study was a cross-sectional (one-time) survey conducted in a healthcare facility. Patients participated in the survey while seeking medical care. The survey was conducted anonymously. A total of 79 respondents participated, of whom 43.0% were male (34) and 57.0% were female (45). Results. The survey results revealed that most respondents were insufficiently informed about the risk factors associated with renal diseases. According to the study participants, the most common risk factors leading to the development of chronic kidney failure are excessive stress, obesity, and high blood pressure. Conclusions. Patients who are aware of potential risks can adopt lifestyle changes, including improving their diet, quitting harmful habits, and engaging in regular physical activity, which positively impacts kidney health. Early diagnosis and management of risk factors help slow the progression of chronic kidney failure, reducing the need for costly treatments in the later stages.