Association of Kidney Transplant Recipients’ Knowledge of Cardiovascular Disease with Adoption of Cardiovascular Disease Risk Reduction Activities
1UCSF, Nashville, TN, 2UCSF, San Francisco, CA
Meeting: 2022 American Transplant Congress
Abstract number: 1364
Keywords: Patient education
Topic: Clinical Science » Kidney » 33 - Kidney Psychosocial
Session Information
Session Time: 7:00pm-8:00pm
Presentation Time: 7:00pm-8:00pm
Location: Hynes Halls C & D
*Purpose: Patient understanding of disease is one key component to engagement in health and participation in risk reduction activities. We examined the association between kidney transplant recipients’ (KTRs) knowledge of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and their participation in CVD risk reduction activities.
*Methods: In this single-center cross-sectional study, we invited English-speaking KTRs who were 18 years or older and were at least 6 months post-KT to participate in a survey administered via the patient portal of an electronic health record. We evaluated KTR’s knowledge of CVD via a 13-point modified questionnaire originally validated among patients with rheumatoid arthritis. We also assessed patients’ self-reported participation in CV risk reduction activities including home blood pressure monitoring (yes/no), adherence to anti-hypertensive and dyslipidemia medications, tobacco use, and degree physical activity. Health literacy was ascertained by a validated question asking participants how confident they are filling out medical forms by themselves.
*Results: 117 patients (mean age: 56.4±13.6, 50% male, 69% White, 95.7% with adequate health literacy) completed the survey, for a response rate of 11%. Patients’ CVD knowledge score was high (mean score=12.1±1.0 out of 13). Participants reported high medication adherence (mean score= 3.7±0.6 out of 4 for anti-hypertensive medications; 3.8±0.5 out of 4 for dyslipidemia medications) and low prevalence of smoking (2%). However, 43% of patients did not measure blood pressure (BP) at home and 57% did not participate in regular physical activity. CVD knowledge score was similar between patients who performed home BP measurement vs those who did not (p=0.93), and between those who regularly exercised and those who did not (p=0.17).
*Conclusions: In a cohort of health literate KTRs who engage with a patient portal, higher CVD knowledge is not associated with participation in cardiovascular risk reduction activities. Further studies are needed to elucidate how to translate CVD knowledge into healthy behaviors among KTRs.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
Fallahzadeh M, Ku E, Adey D, Tuot D. Association of Kidney Transplant Recipients’ Knowledge of Cardiovascular Disease with Adoption of Cardiovascular Disease Risk Reduction Activities [abstract]. Am J Transplant. 2022; 22 (suppl 3). https://atcmeetingabstracts.com/abstract/association-of-kidney-transplant-recipients-knowledge-of-cardiovascular-disease-with-adoption-of-cardiovascular-disease-risk-reduction-activities/. Accessed December 3, 2024.« Back to 2022 American Transplant Congress