Dietary Assessment and Self-Management Using Information Technology in Order to Improve Outcomes in Kidney Transplant Recipients

Abstract

Big data and artificial intelligence (AI) will transform the way research in nephrology is carried out and consequently improve the performance of clinical practice in nephrology and transplantation. Managing long-term health outcomes in kidney transplant recipients (KTR) includes the improvement of modifiable factors, such as diet. Self-management using information technology (IT) aims to facilitate lifestyle changes, manage symptoms and treatment in the course of chronic kidney disease (CKD) or any chronic condition. The advantages of health mobile applications further include the capacity of data compilation and yielding responses to numerous research questions in nephrology and transplantation. However, studies investigating the employment of such applications in KTR and its impact in kidney transplant outcomes are still lacking. The specific advantages of dietary assessment and self-management using IT in order to improve outcomes in KTR are presently discussed. This Special Issue features a great set of articles regarding IT approaches to improve kidney allograft survival and posttransplant outcomes in all areas.

Kidney transplantation is considered the preferred treatment for most patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) [1] in view of the improved quality of life, survival rates and cost-effectiveness in comparison to chronic dialysis treatment [2]. Notwithstanding the advance in overall one-year kidney allograft survival brought by innovative surgical techniques and immunosuppressive protocols [3], the survival of kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) continues to be significantly lower than individuals of a similar age in the general population [4].

Managing long-term health outcomes in KTR includes the improvement of modifiable factors such as diet. Although specific dietary recommendations for KTR are still lacking [5], recent large cohort studies have disclosed novel and interesting findings that assist the comprehension and attainment of new knowledge regarding nutrition and post-transplant outcomes [6,7,8,9]. The adherence to dietary patterns, such as DASH (dietary approach to stop hypertension) and Mediterranean diet, has been positively associated with better kidney graft outcomes and lower risk of all-cause mortality [7,8]. Large KTR cohort studies investigating specific food groups have demonstrated that the intake of fish, known to be rich in omega-3 fatty acids, was inversely associated with risks of long-term cardiovascular and all-cause mortality [6,10]. Moreover, vegetable intake was associated with a lower risk of post-transplantation diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular mortality [9]. Weight gain and other metabolic comorbidities are frequent in KTR [11] and have been associated with graft loss [12]. These findings shed light on the importance of adequate nutrition after transplantation.

Recently, a qualitative study in KTR by Boslooper-Meulenbelt et al. [13] has reported the lack of food literacy as a barrier to a good-quality dietary pattern, emphasizing the importance of accessible and understandable nutritional interventions following kidney transplant. Furthermore, the authors emphasize that specific attention for dietary transition barriers is required for KTR, especially considering their previous dietary restrictions imposed by chronic kidney disease (CKD). Self-management using information technology (IT) aims to facilitate lifestyle changes, manage symptoms and treatment in the course of CKD or any chronic condition [14]. Several health-related mobile applications contain functionalities that are effective and highly promising for nutrition-related health outcomes [14,15]. A study performed in CKD patients used a web application to help individuals in pre-dialysis, in dialysis and posttransplant to make decisions according to diet restrictions and phosphate binder dosage [16]. The results of this research have shown that this application increased the patients’ insight and understanding related to an appropriate CKD-specific diet, besides improving the ability to provide decision support regarding diet and binder intake [16]. A study evaluating twenty-one renal diet-related mobile applications disclosed that the technical quality and health literacy demand of the apps were acceptable, although more than half of the apps did not contain accurate, evidence-based renal diet information [17]. The most important characteristics of a renal diet tailored to KTR should consist of an adequate energy to prevent either protein–energy wasting or overweight/obesity; adequate protein intake to improve quality of life and survival rates, to better control serum phosphorus and ameliorate lipid profile; phosphorus intake to avoid hyperphosphatemia in the late period post-transplantation, which in turn leads to or worsens pre-existent CKD–MBD (mineral bone disorder); adequate potassium intake to reduce the risk of hyperkalemia, associated with cardiac arrhythmia and sudden death; control of sodium intake to avoid increases in blood pressure and cardiovascular risk [18]. The suggested modifiable dietary elements in post-kidney transplantation are summarized in

Table 1. Suggested modifiable dietary elements for a post-kidney transplant in metabolically stable patients with preserved graft function.

Energy	Energy consumption must be maintained between 25 and 35 kcal/kg body weight per day based on age, sex, level of physical activity, body composition, weight status goals and eGFR level.
Protein	Protein intake must be adjusted according to graft function and eGFR level. The amount of dietary protein intake may vary between 0.55 and 1.0 g/kg body weight per day.
Phosphorus	Dietary phosphorus intake must be adjusted to maintain serum phosphate levels within the normal range.
Potassium	Dietary potassium intake is aimed to maintain serum potassium within the normal range and has to be adjusted according to eGFR level.
Sodium	Sodium intake must be adjusted to less than 100 mmol/d (or <2.3 g/d).

eGFR—estimate glomerular filtration rate.

. Kosa et al. [19] have demonstrated in a systematic review that a mobile application with focus on engaging patients and encouraging healthy self-management of CKD was beneficial to ameliorate the adherence to dietary restrictions pertaining to sodium, potassium, phosphorus, protein, calories, and fluid.

Recently, the employment of mobile health technology application aimed at managing and monitoring medication for KTR has proved useful for these patients [20]. However, it seems that the quality of online information for transplant health care still needs improvements [21]. A recent clinical trial has shown that a web-based intervention with individual telemedicine couching for three months was able to cause reduction in dietary sodium in CKD patients, including KTR, when compared to regular routine care [22]. Despite the foreseen advantages of a better control of food intake by KTR, there are only a few studies investigating the use of a dietary self-management application in KTR to date.

Besides intervention, the advantages of health mobile applications should include the capacity of data compilation. A recent review has disclosed that the methods for dietary assessment using technology has several advantages, encompassing the use of minimal resources and cost-savings, the enhanced veracity of dietary intake reports, besides more engagement and feedback from patients [23]. Given that more than half of the global population is currently connected to the internet, the usage of electronic health records can empower the patients in their dietary decision-making process, and in exchange, contribute to the development of large datasets that can be used by researchers to answer numerous pertinent research questions in nephrology and transplantation, as exemplified above. In recent years, the artificial intelligence (AI) field has substantially changed the way digital data are analyzed and used [24], and it will similarly transform the way research in nephrology is carried out, improving clinical practice in nephrology and transplantation [25]. For this to happen, future AI models must be integrative, gathering diversified data to provide superior accuracy and tenacity [24].

This Special Issue presents a great set of articles regarding IT approaches to improve kidney allograft survival and posttransplant outcomes. Further prospective and multi-center validation studies are needed to fully elucidate how KTR can benefit from IT use, particularly in relation to functionalities targeted to facilitate dietary self-management tasks. Future research is also required to enlighten how IT applications in KTR can be translated into improvements in clinical outcomes in post-transplantation.