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Kidney Week

Abstract: TH-PO275

How Pervasive Is Pervasive Sensing in Hemodialysis? Results from a Clinical Research Survey of Urban Dialysis Clinics

Session Information

Category: Dialysis

  • 801 Dialysis: Hemodialysis and Frequent Dialysis

Authors

  • Han, Maggie, Renal Research Institute, New York, New York, United States
  • Rivera Fuentes, Lemuel, Renal Research Institute, New York, New York, United States
  • Wang, Lin-Chun, Renal Research Institute, New York, New York, United States
  • Thwin, Ohnmar, Renal Research Institute, New York, New York, United States
  • Tisdale, Lela, Renal Research Institute, New York, New York, United States
  • Kotanko, Peter, Renal Research Institute, New York, New York, United States
Background

Currently, there is a wealth of commercially available activity and fitness trackers that have become available, allowing insights into physical activity, sleep, heart rate, and a plethora of other parameters that could lead to timely intervention prior to a manifest clinical decline. We aimed to determine the percentage of in-center hemodialysis (HD) patients using commercially available wearable devices.

Methods

Patients from four HD clinics located in New York City, NY, were surveyed. The study was exempt from the requirement of collecting informed consent by the Western Institutional Research Board (ES-21-004). In March 2021, patients were asked if they owned a wearable activity tracker, and if so, what type of device they owned (Fitbit, Garmin, Apple Watch, Samsung, etc.).

Results

Census data of these four HD clinics from September 2020 indicated that the population is 51 % black, 31 % Hispanic, and 59 % male. In total, 502 patients were approached, and 434 (86.5 %) agreed to respond. Of the responders to the survey, 52 (12 %) owned a wearable activity tracker, 380 (87.6 %) did not, and 2 (0.5 %) were unsure if they did. Of those 52 patients who owned a wearable activity tracker, 9 (17%) patients owned an Apple Watch, 31 (60%) a Fitbit, 4 (8%) a Samsung, and 8 (15%) owned another device or did not specify brand (Figure 1).

Conclusion

In our study of urban in-center HD patients, only a small proportion (around 10%) own wearable activity trackers. Possible barriers to the adoption of these devices are lack of access to the internet and smartphones, and technology literacy.

Funding

  • NIDDK Support – Renal Research Institute