MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY

Results: The majority (89.1%) but not all of participants were aware of their diagnosis of CKD. Almost a third (31.5%) of patients that were aware of a diagnosis of CKD did not know their serum creatinine level compared to only 15.4% of participants with diabetes who did not know their last serum glucose level. Most participants identified hypertension (92.1%) and diabetes (86%) as risk factors for CKD, but male sex (59%) and African American race (71.6%) were selected less frequently. While glucose, proteinuria and blood pressure control were commonly associated by participants as known methods to slow progression of CKD, smoking control (79.5%) and use of reninangiotensin system inhibitors (63.8%) were less known. After adjustment for sociodemographic factors, younger age and presence of a college degree were the only independent predictors of knowledge of CKD risk factors. Conclusions: Access to CKD education needs to be tailored to the health literacy status of each patient. Educational interventional research studies are needed in early-stage CKD to determine impact on clinical outcomes. (Ethn Dis. 2010;20:106–110)