Randomized Trial of the VIEWER Telemonitoring Platform to Improve Outcomes in High-Risk Stage 5 Chronic Kidney Disease Patients

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating whether adding the VIEWER virtual care platform to usual care can reduce emergency department visits and hospitalizations or improve the perceived safety of virtual care for patients with advanced Chronic Kidney Disease CKD. This study focuses on patients at high risk during the vulnerable period before starting dialysis, aiming to improve communication between patients and healthcare providers through remote monitoring. The trial is a national, pragmatic, multicenter randomized controlled study conducted at five Canadian sites. The VIEWER platform includes a wireless blood pressure cuff, weight scale, oxygen saturation monitor, wearable motion tracker, and a tablet with a custom app guiding patients through daily self-assessments. Patients in the intervention group use these devices and complete weekly symptom surveys over 12 months or until they begin dialysis, in addition to receiving usual care. The control group receives usual care alone, which may be virtual or in person. Healthcare providers receive alerts for out-of-range measurements and communicate with patients through a secure portal, integrating this data into clinical decision-making. Participants will be monitored over 12 months or until dialysis starts, completing surveys on patient experience, quality of life, and usability at regular intervals. Researchers will track hospitalizations, emergency visits, mortality, dialysis initiation, adherence to monitoring, and provider and patient perspectives through focus groups. Data collected via the VIEWER platform and standard assessments will help evaluate the impact of this telemonitoring approach on health outcomes and care experience.

CKD Specific Telemonitoring Platform to Minimize Adverse Outcomes in High Risk CKD Patients