The Perception of Illness in People with Advanced Chronic Kidney Disease

Background/objectives: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) has become an important public health issue; however, there are few investigations regarding the perception of CKD in its advanced stages. Personalized medicine approaches, which take into account knowledge of the disease, symptoms and treatment responses, can improve the perception of the disease and help control the progression of CKD. This study aimed to describe illness perception in people with advanced CKD in primary healthcare settings. Methods: A cross-sectional and multicenter descriptive study was conducted amongst a sample of 189 people over 18 years of age with advanced CKD and a glomerular filtration rate between 15 and 29 mL/min/1.73 m² in three community health centers, including rural and urban areas, during 2023. Data on sociodemographic and clinical variables were collected through an ad hoc questionnaire and those on the perception of disease through the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire. Nurses at the centers collected data from the study. Results: The mean age was 79.7, and all participants suffered from another chronic condition in addition to CKD. The mean total score for perception of the disease was 44.02 points, and the dimensions of the duration of treatment control and understanding had the highest evaluations. Men had a greater perception in the dimensions of concern (p = 0.023) and understanding (p = 0.006). The dimension of consequences showed a correlation with identity (Spearman's Rho 0.688; p = 0.001), and concern about the disease was associated with emotional response (Spearman's Rho 0.689; p < 0.001). A higher number of hospital admissions was associated with a higher score on the questionnaire (B = 4.93; p < 0.001; CI: 3.01-6.84) in a multiple linear regression. Conclusions: Participants in this study with advanced CKD had low illness perception; women expressed less concern in understanding their health status. Higher symptom burden was linked to greater illness perception, greater emotional impact, and increased hospital admissions.