More than 85% of Spaniards do not know that controlling fluid intake is the biggest problem in summer for people with severe kidney disease.

More than 85% of Spaniards do not consider fluid control to be the biggest problem for people with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the summer, according to a population survey conducted by the Boehringer Ingelheim and Lilly Alliance with the support of Alcer. , CardioAlliance and FEDE.

CKD is a condition that indicates that the kidneys are damaged and do not function properly, preventing them from maintaining the body’s health. In Spain, it affects one in seven adults, corresponding to a prevalence of 15%, and is more common in men, older people and people with cardiovascular disease.

More than 86% of respondents do not consider the difficulty of maintaining a low-salt and low-potassium diet to be a major challenge during the holidays, and only 20% of respondents believe that staying cool and avoiding overheating is the biggest challenge for people with CKD during the summer.

Moreover, about 17% of people aged 25 to 34 years and about 15% of people aged 55 to 65 years believe that the most difficult task for people with CKD is to adhere to these dietary restrictions during the summer season. During the holiday season, the number of meals eaten outside the home increases, making it more difficult to control nutrition. Food offerings in restaurants and at social events often do not meet the necessary restrictions, which can lead to an imbalance in nutrition control, the study highlights.

More than one in five Spaniards believe that the most difficult time of the summer for people with this pathology is access to health services. During this period, patients may not have a regular specialist doctor. Without such quality care, patients may have difficulty accessing regular treatments such as dialysis and the constant monitoring that their condition requires. In addition, familiarity and detailed knowledge of your regular doctor with your medical history and specific needs are crucial for the correct management of CKD.

To address these issues, CKD patients are advised to maintain adequate hydration by drinking small amounts of water throughout the day under the supervision of a physician to avoid fluid overload. It is essential to regularly monitor electrolyte levels and follow dietary recommendations from a healthcare professional to maintain the necessary balance.

“The biggest danger is dehydration, especially during hot periods. In this sense, special care must be taken in elderly patients who lose the feeling of thirst and are more susceptible to this risk, so it is important that their family members and caregivers are aware of this condition and adequately understand the risk. fluid intake and adequate hydration of the patient. Hypotension and orthostatic hypotension (‘dizziness when getting up from the couch or bed’) can worsen kidney function, since less blood reaches the kidneys,” said Dr. Noemi Perez de Leon.,

Family physician and coordinator of the Semergen nephrourology working group.