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Abstract Objective: to evaluate the use of a renal health application by kidney transplant recipients. Method: a retrospective, observational study with a sample composed of individuals registered in the kidney transplant section of the application from July of 2018 to April of 2021. Demographic data, data entry, time of use, weight, blood pressure, blood glucose, creatinine, medication schedules, appointments, and tests were the variables collected. Descriptive analysis of the data was performed. Results: eight hundred and twenty-three downloads of the application were identified, and 12.3% of those were registered as kidney transplant recipients, the majority from southeastern Brazil (44.9%), 36±11 years old, and female (59.1%). Of the sample, 35.1% entered information such as creatinine (62%), weight (58.2%), and blood pressure (51.8%). Most used the application for one day (63.3%) and 13.9% for more than one hundred days. Those who used it for more than one day (36.7%) recorded weight (69%), medication intake (65.5%) and creatinine (62%), and scheduled appointments (69%). Conclusion: the kidney transplant recipient section of the Renal Health application generated interest in the young population, but showed low adherence throughout the assessed months. These results offer a relevant perspective on the implementation of mHealth technologies in kidney transplantation.

Resumo Objetivo: avaliar o uso do aplicativo Renal Health por transplantados renais. Método: estudo observacional retrospectivo com amostra composta por usuários que realizaram cadastro na seção para transplantados renais do aplicativo de julho de 2018 a abril de 2021. Foram coletadas as seguintes variáveis: dados demográficos, inserção de dados, tempo de uso, registros de peso, pressão arterial, glicemia, creatinina, horários das medicações, consultas e exames. Realizou-se análise descritiva dos dados. Resultados: houve 1.823 downloads do aplicativo e 12,3% cadastraram-se na seção para transplantados renais, a maioria do Sudeste do Brasil (44,9%), com 36±11 anos e do sexo feminino (59,1%). Da amostra, 35,1% inseriram informações como creatinina (62%), peso (58,2%) e pressão arterial (51,8%). A maioria utilizou o aplicativo por um dia (63,3%) e 13,9% por mais de cem dias. Os que utilizaram por mais de um dia (36,7%), inseriram peso (69%), agendaram consultas (69%), medicações (65,5%) e creatinina (62%). Conclusão: a seção para transplantados renais do aplicativo Renal Health despertou interesse na população jovem, mas apresentou baixa adesão ao longo dos meses avaliados. Esses resultados oferecem perspectiva relevante na implementação de tecnologias mHealth no transplante renal.

Resumen Objetivo: evaluar el uso de la aplicación Renal Health por parte de los receptores de trasplante renal. Método: estudio observacional retrospectivo con una muestra compuesta por usuarios que se registraron en la sección de trasplantados renales dentro de la aplicación desde julio de 2018 hasta abril de 2021. Se recolectaron las siguientes variables: datos demográficos, ingreso de datos, tiempo de uso, registros de peso, presión arterial, glucosa en sangre, creatinina, esquemas de medicación, consultas y exámenes. Se realizó un análisis descriptivo de los datos. Resultados: Ocurrieron 1.823 descargas de la aplicación y 12,3% se registró en la sección de trasplantados, la mayoría del sudeste de Brasil (44,9%), con edad de 36±11 años y del sexo femenino (59,1%). De la muestra, 35,1% ingresó información como: creatinina (62%), peso (58,2%) y presión arterial (51,8%). La mayoría utilizó la aplicación durante un día (63,3%) y el 13,9% más de cien días. Quienes lo usaron por más de un día (36,7%), agregaron peso (69%), programación de consultas (69%), medicación (65,5%) y creatinina (62%). Conclusión: la sección para trasplantados renales de la aplicación Renal Health despertó interés en la población joven, pero mostró baja adherencia en los meses evaluados. Estos resultados ofrecen una perspectiva relevante en la implementación de tecnologías mHealth en el trasplante renal.

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OBJECTIVE: to evaluate the use of a renal health application by kidney transplant recipients. METHOD: a retrospective, observational study with a sample composed of individuals registered in the kidney transplant section of the application from July of 2018 to April of 2021. Demographic data, data entry, time of use, weight, blood pressure, blood glucose, creatinine, medication schedules, appointments, and tests were the variables collected. Descriptive analysis of the data was performed. RESULTS: eight hundred and twenty-three downloads of the application were identified, and 12.3% of those were registered as kidney transplant recipients, the majority from southeastern Brazil (44.9%), 36±11 years old, and female (59.1%). Of the sample, 35.1% entered information such as creatinine (62%), weight (58.2%), and blood pressure (51.8%). Most used the application for one day (63.3%) and 13.9% for more than one hundred days. Those who used it for more than one day (36.7%) recorded weight (69%), medication intake (65.5%) and creatinine (62%), and scheduled appointments (69%). CONCLUSION: the kidney transplant recipient section of the Renal Health application generated interest in the young population, but showed low adherence throughout the assessed months. These results offer a relevant perspective on the implementation of mHealth technologies in kidney transplantation.

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Digital health is an area that emerges from the association between health needs and technological solutions. With the growing access of people to the internet and the ease of acquiring equipment that allows internet connection, we are observing an exponential increase in the strategies that use technology to connect patients and healthcare providers. Telenephrology is a channel of communication that facilitates the access to the nephrologist for both primary care physicians and patients and has been implemented in several countries. Applications for smartphones are frequently used by both patients and healthcare providers, and these tools are changing the way we practice nephrology and medicine in general. Social networks emerge as an important way of communicating between healthcare professionals and patients and a source of connection for people with the same interests. Artificial intelligence, big data, and other technological solutions, including wearable devices that measure and monitor different health parameters, are revolutionizing healthcare and the field of nephrology. Implantable devices are in development, including devices to monitor electrolytes in dialysis patients, systems to track medication intake, wearables to monitor exercises, monitoring of blood pressure, heart rate, arrhythmia, and peripheral oxy-hemoglobin saturation, among others. The wearable artificial kidney, a device which would perform renal function during ambulation and social activities outside of the hospital, has been under investigation for many years. In this chapter, we highlight the most recent advances in digital health applied to nephrology.

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Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a Public Health problem affecting a considerable number of patients worldwide. CKD treatment is complex and requires patients' education. Based on this we have created technological tools, including an application for smartphones and a profile on Instagram (Renal Health) aiming to educate patients to self-monitor and cope with their disease, to increase adherence to treatment. In this study, we have analyzed the spontaneous feedbacks patients, and other people have posted on the Renal Health Instagram (comments) to investigate which information was needed the most by which types of patients. During the first 15 months since the release of this profile, there were 3380 followers, a total of 449 posts, with 36,079 "likes". Most of the followers were patients and parents, they gave spontaneous testimonials of their experiences with having kidney disease, and were thankful for the information provided and for the response we gave to their questions. From the analysis of the comments, we found that information on nutrition, physical activities and kidney transplant were the most discussed and valued. Our results also showed that the main use of this medium for dialysis and transplant patients was to share their experience. The Renal Health Instagram was considered a good digital platform of trusted information for both patients and the general population and also a space for sharing experiences in the context of kidney disease epidemics.

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Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a Public Health problem worldwide. Treatment in complex and depends on patient education to achieve adequate adherence. We describe in this paper novel strategies for patients' education based on internet (youtube and instagram), through videos, images and texts information directed for patients in a project developed in Brazil.

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