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Relationship between Health Literacy and Kidney Function
Author(s) -
Devraj Radhika,
Borrego Matthew,
Vilay A Mary,
Gordon Elisa J.,
Pailden Junvie,
Horowitz Bruce
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
nephrology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 61
eISSN - 1440-1797
pISSN - 1320-5358
DOI - 10.1111/nep.12425
Subject(s) - medicine , renal function , kidney disease , demographics , health literacy , confidence interval , nephrology , observational study , demography , health care , sociology , economics , economic growth
Aim Low health literacy ( HL ) may contribute to poor self‐management of chronic kidney disease ( CKD ) and poor kidney function. This study aimed to assess the relationship between HL and estimated glomerular filtration rate ( eGFR ). Methods A cross‐sectional observational study was conducted among consecutive eligible adult patients with CKD stages 1–4 attending an outpatient nephrology clinic. HL was assessed using N ewest V ital S ign ( NVS ). eGFR was estimated using the M odification of D iet in R enal D isease equation. CKD self‐management behaviour knowledge was assessed using a study instrument ( CKD self‐management knowledge ( SMKT )).Results One hundred fifty patients participated in the study (83% participation rate). The prevalence of high likelihood of limited HL was 32.7%. Participants' eGFRs ranged from 17 to 152 mL/min / 1.73 m 2 , with over 80% of the eGFRs below 60 mL/min / 1.73 m 2 . HL was associated with eGFR after controlling for all demographics except age, race and gender (which are included in eGFR equation) ( P = 0.05). Every unit increase in NVS score was associated with a 1.9% increase (95% confidence interval = 0 to 3.86%) in eGFR (model R square = 0.23, P = 0.002), which remained significant after controlling for CKD‐SMKT ( P = 0.05; model R square = 0.28, P < 0.001). The relationship was non‐significant after controlling for age, although it remained significant after controlling for other demographics including gender and race. Conclusions There is a small but significant association between HL and eGFR. Providers should use HL ‐tailored communication strategies in CKD patients. Larger multicentre studies are needed to substantiate this relationship.