Internet of Things and Wearables for Kidney Diseases

Abstract

The Internet of Things (IoT) is a type of network that can connect anything to the Internet, based on specific protocols about sensors that collect information to perform intelligent identification, location, tracking, monitoring, and administration, among other functions. The integration of IoT with medicine makes it possible to increasingly apply the concept of P4 (Predictive, Preventive, Personalized, and Participatory) medicine, which proposes a systemic approach considering the most recent technological advances and interdisciplinary work. Wearables can detect several variables, including movement, location, cardiac activity, outside sounds, photoplethysmography (PPG), among others. Portable devices are the ones most frequently used nowadays. However, attachable devices such as skin patches have been studied, and recently, it was observed that they can obtain more accurate and reliable information about the individual, since they are not affected by the individual’s movements. One of the best known and most often used wearables on the planet is the Apple Watch, which is capable of performing several functions, including the measurement of some health indicators, mainly related to the cardiovascular system. In the context of nephrology, wearables are particularly useful for the control and monitoring of underlying diseases, such as hypertension and diabetes, as well as cardiovascular complications. There are many perspectives for the future, and further studies are required to assess the application of these devices in clinical practice for kidney disease treatment.