OTN and partners evaluate app for chronic kidney disease patients

OTN and Lawson Health Research Institute are currently evaluating the impact of a remote telemonitoring solution for patients with chronic kidney disease who are currently receiving peritoneal dialysis (PD) at home.

The randomized controlled trial is being carried out through the London Health Sciences Centre’s (LHSC) Kidney Care Centre using eQ Connect Solution, a digital tool from eQOL.

The number of people diagnosed with kidney failure has tripled over the past 20 years and demand for renal replacement therapy is growing rapidly. The goal of the pilot is to help people undertake dialysis at home rather than spend days at the hospital hooked up to dialysis machines.

Patients can often be daunted when faced with managing on their own, but the app is designed to offer support, tracking vital information like weight, blood pressure and fluid amounts. The data is instantly transmitted to the patient’s care team for monitoring and to help identify any problems.

The telemonitoring solution is hoped to not only improve quality of life but also result in savings for the healthcare system. The project supports the Ontario Renal Network’s goal to increase the percentage of home dialysis from the current 18% to 40%.

Patient recruitment is already underway. Half of the 450-650 patients participating in the three-year randomized controlled trial at various sites will receive a tablet with the app, while the remainder will serve as controls. With the Women’s College Hospital Institute for Health System Solutions and Virtual Care (WIHV), OTN will comprehensively assess measures that capture the patient experience and health outcomes in a subset of patients over one year.

To read more about other innovative virtual care projects OTN has on the go, please visit otn.ca/innovation