Chronic Kidney Disease Awareness and Related Factors: Literature Review

Kidney disease has recently become a major global health concern. Awareness of the disease can lead to early diagnosis and management, thereby preventing its progression to end-stage renal disease. Aim: This study aimed to systematically review existing literature on disease awareness and the related factors among patients with chronic kidney disease. Methods: The literature review was conducted through various electronic databases to identify studies published in the past decade, examining CKD awareness and its associates. Results: A total of 20 studies on awareness about chronic kidney disease and associated factors were systematically reviewed. Of the identified studies, the majority were descriptive and cross-sectional, showing that sociodemographic factors of age, education, and income strongly influenced CKD awareness. Awareness was consistently higher in older subjects and those with better education and income. Besides, CKD awareness was better when access to health was more available, especially among those who had a check for renal function in the recent period. However, a marked regional variation is noted: a developed nation enjoys a better awareness level as compared to developing ones. These results emphasize the need for targeted educational programs, especially among low-income and rural communities, to enhance the early detection and management of CKD.