Introduction: End-stage renal disease (ESRD) is a growing problem, particularly in developing countries. Factors closely related with lifestyle and dietary habits that negatively affect kidney function are rarely modified by isolated medical intervention. Therefore, the present study was designed to determine the effect of an educational program with a multidisciplinary health-care approach supported by self-help groups on the lifestyle and dietary habits of patients at high risk of developing chronic kidney disease (CKD).
Patients: 51 patients with overweight/obesity, 45 with hypertension and 88 with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) from a Family Medicine Unit, who had failed to meet clinical practice recommendations, were studied over 6 months. Patients received educational intervention guided by a multidisciplinary health team for 4 weeks (including topics such as emotional management, nutritional patterns, exercise and health-related problems). Reinforcement of goals and group dynamics were performed every 3 months. Additionally, self-help groups were constituted during the first month, and functioned with free activities, selected by patients and supported by the health team, for the duration of the study. A lifestyle questionnaire was administered at baseline and the end of the study; clinical and biochemical evaluations were performed every 3 months.
Results: Baseline lifestyle and dietary habits were unhealthy in all groups, particularly with regard to diet and exercise, and clinical and biochemical variables were concordant with inadequate achievement of clinical practice recommendations. After 6 months experience within this program, many of the negative lifestyle characteristics significantly improved. All groups reported a notable improvement in nutritional and exercise habits, as well as in management of the emotions. Only diabetic and hypertensive patients significantly improved the knowledge of their disease and adherence to treatment. None of the groups managed to reduce smoking or to cut their alcohol intake habits; however, relatively few participants had displayed these behaviors at the start of the study. Compared to baseline, all the groups significantly reduced body mass index and waist circumference. Additionally, diabetics and overweight/ obese patients significantly reduced blood glucose and increased GFR, and hypertensive patients significantly decreased systolic blood pressure and tended, although not significantly, to increase GFR. Remarkably, all these changes were independent of drug treatment, because none of the therapeutic interventions that had been formerly prescribed by family physicians had been significantly changed by the end of the follow-up in any of the groups.
Conclusions: The implementation of educational strategies comprising multiple interventions for patients, guided by health professionals (multidisciplinary teams including primary doctors, dietitians, nurses, social workers), and probably supported by self-help groups, may be very helpful in modifying negative lifestyle and dietary habits. Educational interventions by both doctors and patients should be adopted concurrently and may help to control the enormous and growing problem of ESRD.