Mobile Applications in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Justification: Worldwide, 850 million people suffer from chronic kidney disease (CKD), and in Mexico it is the tenth cause of mortality with 13,167 deaths per year. CKD patients undergoing hemodialysis present challenges in following the prescribed treatment and managing care; Therefore, different health strategies have been proposed to address those challenges, including mobile health applications. Objective: Analyze the scientific evidence available worldwide on mobile health applications for patients with CKD on hemodialysis that have been validated, evaluated, implemented or in the process of development. Methods: Systematic review of the literature following the PRISMA statement and search question with the PICOT-D format. Databases with keywords in 12 languages were consulted. Results: Of 474 manuscripts, seven met the inclusion criteria. Mobile health applications were designed using different methodologies. Mobile health applications were found mainly aimed at self-monitoring and/or self-management, including health literacy, of patients with CKD.