#1816 Effectiveness of chronic kidney disease education in patients with advanced stages: a retrospective study

Abstract Background and Aims Chronic kidney disease (CKD) education has demonstrated benefits, including preservation of kidney function, an increased proportion of patients starting hemodialysis with permanent access, greater preference for home dialysis, and improved survival rates. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of CKD education in patients with advanced stages of CKD. Method A retrospective study was conducted on CKD patients who visited the nephrology department between January 2001 and March 2024. Patients with at least six months of follow-up and a decline in eGFR were included, while those who initiated renal replacement therapy were excluded. The progression to the next CKD stage was compared between patients who received CKD education and those who did not. Propensity score matching (PSM) analysis was performed to adjust for confounding factors. Results A total of 1,526 patients (mean age 60.4 ± 14.9 years, 662 female) were included in the study. The mean follow-up period was 1,015.1 ± 827.3 days. Among 859 stage 3b patients, 815 (94.9%) progressed to the next stage, while 644 (96.5%) of 667 stage 4 patients progressed. Of these, 76 (8.8%) and 146 (21.9%) patients had received CKD education, respectively. Patients who received CKD education were generally younger and had more severe proteinuria and cerebrovascular disease compared to those who did not. Although the CKD education group (particularly stage 4 patients) progressed faster to the next stage, no significant difference was observed after PSM analysis. Conclusion Only 4.4% of patients with advanced CKD stages maintained their current stage. CKD education was received by 21% of stage 4 patients, but it did not appear to delay disease progression.