Water Drinking Practices in ADPKD Patients: A Questionnaire Based Study

Patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) who have normal renal function (creatinine clearance, >90 ml per minute per 1.73 m² of body-surface area) might potentially benefit from frequent water intake that would be sufficient to reduce plasma AVP levels and decrease the average urine osmolality, bringing it closer to that of plasma.

In this cross-sectional study, the patients of ADPKD, chronic kidney disease stages 1-5 were included. We formed a questionnaire on the dietary recommendation to the patients. The questions enquired whether the patients received the recommendation from the faculty and the postgraduates of the nephrology department that (a) they should consume at least 3000 mL of water per day, (b) that they should not consume coffee and tea,(c) adherence of patients to the advice of the nephrologists.

Of 294 patients, 142 (48.2%) did not receive any dietary recommendation. The rest 152 (51.7%) were given the appropriate dietary recommendation. Majority of the patients mentioned that they lacked the access to the water when they intend to consume. Despite the advice from the nephrologists, 95 (32.3%) failed to observe the abstinence from coffee and tea. The reason expressed for not quitting coffee and tea was the force of the habit.

Treating doctorsfailed to inform 48% of patients the proper diet. Only 20.3% of patients consumed >3.0 litre of water per day. The demand of the agricultural work at a place away from home deprived majority of the participants of the study from the potable water.