27.06.2024 – 08.13 – TheTeaching room of the Nephrology Department dedicated to the memory of knight Leo Udinaat the Maggiore Hospital in Trieste.
Chronic kidney disease affects approximately 7% of the Italian population and often coexists with other chronic pathologies such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Its course is frequently subtle, asymptomatic and can lead, in some cases, to the need for advanced treatments such as dialysis and transplant.
TO Trieste people with chronic kidney disease followed regularly in clinics there are a few thousand and there are approximately 300 patients who need renal function replacement treatment, of which 150 are transplanted and 150 are on dialysis.
The path of people who develop a kidney problem is often linked to chronicity, i.e. the need to live over time with the different phases of the disease which requires specific treatments and trained personnel. It is in this context that the relationship between healthcare workers, patient and family becomes the fulcrum of care. In fact, as with all chronic diseases, the relationship established between the patient and the healthcare system, understood as the structure, organization and activities of all dedicated operators, is fundamental to obtaining the best health outcome.
The dissemination of knowledge, the training of healthcare professionals, the continuous updating of practices and the formation of clinical networks are the pillars of the prevention and treatment of kidney diseases and are supported by the alliance between healthcare professionals, institutions and patient associations.
For all these reasons, says Dr. Vittorio Di Maso, the constant commitment of the Complex Nephrology and Dialysis Structure of Trieste is to guarantee continuity of care by ensuring the centrality of the patient and the personalization of care also through the constant involvement of patients and their families. In the department, collaboration projects with other specialties are followed to facilitate diagnostic-therapeutic pathways, clinical studies for the use of new drugs and training meetings. This year a prevention project was launched to encourage vaccination coverage for patients and their families. Furthermore, we are working on the creation of facilitated paths for inclusion on the transplant list, for shared hospital-territory management, protected discharge and home care. Home dialysis is one of the most important areas of recent development and reflects the vocation for close integration between hospital and local services.
The activity of patient associations in this context represents a unique and indispensable tool for participation and awareness. The National Association of Hemodialysis Patients, Dialysis and Transplant – ANED Onlus can boast, thanks to its constant work, the recognition of the Gold Medal of Merit for Public Health. The defense and protection of the rights of people with chronic kidney disease, those undergoing dialysis and kidney transplants, the prevention of kidney diseases, raising awareness of the activation and proper functioning of Dialysis Centers and the promotion of the culture of organ donation for transplant purposes are just some of the objectives pursued by the Association.
The knight Leo Udina he was Secretary of the Friuli Venezia Giulia Committee of the ANED Onlus from 2011 until his death in 2023. Precisely in these years he stood out throughout the region for his relentless work at the service of kidney patients.
Over the years, the Knight has embraced important battles, from dialysis treatment guaranteed to all patients to the widespread opening of dialysis centres, from support for policies to strengthen renal transplantation to the great commitment to spreading knowledge about renal pathologies. He has done his utmost in numerous awareness initiatives in favor of donation and transplantation, participated in and supported the organization of nephrological conferences, disseminated his experience as a transplant recipient and kidney patient in schools, demonstrating a great interest in knowledge and dissemination. of problems relating to kidney disease.
To represent the strong partnership between Nephrology and patient associations and underlining the centrality of the person in the clinical path, ASUGI has decided to dedicate to the memory of the cav. Leo Udina the multimedia teaching room, which will represent a place where it is possible to pursue dissemination and training objectives useful for sharing, updating and improving the care of people with kidney disease.
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