An international survey, published in Clinical Journal of the American Society of NephrologyyThe study paints a picture of the state of nutritional care and follow-up for patients with kidney problems. According to the research, many countries neglect the nutritional aspects of kidney disease patients, a fact that could worsen the condition.
A proper diet can slow down kidney deterioration and thus delay treatments such as dialysis or transplantation.
This Atlas, first produced in 2018, has attempted to evaluate nutritional services for kidney patients using international knowledge.
To carry out the study, stakeholders in kidney care (organizations, policymakers, nephrology leaders) from 182 ISN member countries were surveyed via email. 160 of all participants responded, and of those, 155 countries answered the section on kidney nutritional care.
Of the 155 countries that responded to this part of the survey, only 48 percent have experts in renal diet or nutrition. Furthermore, in 65 percent of low- and middle-income countries, this advice is not usually available. According to the survey, this service is never available in the lowest-income countries.
The study shows that nephrologists and dietitians work together in 60 percent of the world's countries only "sometimes".
The experts participating in the study show the importance of this joint work between nephrologists and dietitians or nutritionists, as well as the need to raise awareness of the importance of nutrition and diet in kidney patients.
If you would like to learn about these and other findings from the study, you can do so at the following link:
https://cjasn.asnjournals.org/content/early/2022/01/03/CJN.14861121
