Awareness and Perceived Risk Factors of Chronic Kidney Disease Among Patients with Diabetes in the Northern Borders of Saudi Arabia: Implications for a Strategic Monitoring and Management Plan

Background/Objectives: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) poses a significant health burden for individuals with diabetes mellitus, increasing morbidity and mortality. Understanding CKD and its risk factors is essential for early detection, effective management, and prevention of complications. This study aimed to assess CKD awareness as the primary outcome and to explore self-reported CKD prevalence and associated factors as secondary outcomes among patients with diabetes in the Northern Border Region, Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 389 adults with a self-reported physician diagnosis of diabetes in the specified region, using a validated, self-administered online questionnaire. Data were analyzed to evaluate CKD awareness and identify perceived risk factors and factors associated with self-reported CKD. Results: Of the participants, 182 (46.8%) demonstrated good awareness of CKD, while the self-reported prevalence of CKD was 83 (21.3%). Males and unmarried participants were more likely to have good CKD awareness (p = 0.008 and 0.009, respectively). Significant associations were observed between self-reported CKD prevalence and age, sex, type of diabetes, family history of kidney disease, and comorbidities (all p < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression showed that hypertension was strongly associated with self-reported CKD [aOR = 5.77; 95% CI: 3.12–10.67; p < 0.001], as was heart disease [aOR = 4.21; 95% CI: 1.35–13.13; p = 0.013]. Conclusions: Patients with diabetes in this region exhibited moderate awareness of CKD, with higher awareness among males and unmarried individuals. Hypertension and cardiac disease were significantly associated with self-reported CKD. These findings underscore the importance of targeted education, routine evidence-based screening, and structured management strategies for CKD within diabetes care and provide a basis for a regional strategic plan to strengthen CKD monitoring among patients with diabetes.