Reviewed By Physicians: Top Ten Nephrology Apps

Diseases related to the kidney often require prolonged follow up, close monitoring and good management at home. The introduction of apps that help patients self-track and self-monitor some important parameters can significantly impact survival and limit morbidity from kidney ailments. Clinical calculators also come very useful to the treating team allowing more adherence to theory, especially in overburdened setups.

Nephrology News

Nephrology News is an app developed by Dr. Anass Qasem and available free on Google Play. The app houses a set of guidelines on different topics in the specialty. Useful topics can be marked out under favorites. Users can directly search PubMed, Google Scholar and YouTube, and browse Nephrology journals via the app. It could, however, have been better organized so that one did not have to scroll down the entire set of topics to find what they are looking for. The app does not work without an internet connection, another drawback. On the plus side, it does roll a newsfeed with the latest in nephrology research updated as soon as it is published.

Nephrology On-Demand Plus (Version 2.0)

This umbrella app has everything under its shade. It has a section for evidence-based medicine to aid clinical decision making with interactive forms about suitability for CAPD/CCPD, prognosis of IgA nephropathy, risk of Primary Arterio-Venous fistula failure and risk of mortality with hemodialysis. The selection is a bit haphazard, but if the format is used several times these few areas will be learnt by heart. The app also contains links to its web page on a wide range of educational materials, links to 10-minute videos and the full text of all the guidelines issued by different national nephrology associations. There is a discussion board segregated into several topic specific treads, a calendar of conferences, know how about jobs and what not. Many of the features require internet access but the calculators are available offline. The app looks childish but is well organized and is fully no frills.

Dialysis Calculator

The Dialysis Calculator is an app developed by the Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile in 2016. The app has a collection of 31 calculators under 6 heads, namely eGFR, nutrients, clearance and fractional excretion, urea distribution volume, hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. It is very thorough and gives much more information than the average eGFR calculators out there. Absolutely a must have for nephrology residents and specialists. The best part is that it is available free for android devices and is entirely accessible while offline. The interface is simple and elegant.

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RCPE

The app, by the Royal College of Physicians, Edinburgh with the NHS, is a learning tool for medical students and junior doctors. It also calculates Acute Kidney Injury stage with baseline and current creatinine values. The material is concise and includes external links to consult for intensive study. There are also four case studies. The app would work wonders if its scope were expanded to cover more topics in nephrology and incorporate more case studies.

Nurse Nephrology

The app by Stat Pearls quizzes users on their knowledge of nephrology and tracks progress. The initial quizzes include sets of five questions. The app is free but its full version has to be purchased. This is a great way to test your knowledge, stay updated and review the subject. It is targeted to nurses but can also be used by medical students and allied health professionals.

Five More 'Must Have' Nephrology Apps

NKF Pocket Guide

The National Kidney Foundation of the US has a number of really great apps. The Pocket Guide can be used for doing nutritional assessments and making nutrient prescriptions for patients suffering from kidney disease. The app requires some basic patient information and inputs about comorbidities. It includes a digitized form for subjective global assessment as well. The app is smart, chique, and extremely easy to use. The selection of SGA ratings is also made easier by the provision of small definitions for each score. It can very well form an integral part of a regular outpatient visit.

H2Overload

Another app by the NKF, H2Overload is meant for use by patients with kidney disease. It helps patients keep track of fluid intake, blood pressure and weight to ensure optimum homeostasis. It also provides information on some common conditions, keeps a calendar of doctor's appointments, a list of medications, tips about maintaining fluid balance, provides space for questions, and maintains a patient profile. This app is about empowering patients to take charge of the situation. It is available free on AppStore and Google Play.

Transplant

Developed by NKF Transplant is another patient directed app to support people through the aftermath of a kidney transplant. The app is designed in FAQ format. The layout is smart with happy red tabs, subtitles, and short, to the point, easily understood answers. It addresses worries about different symptoms, provides information about patient assistance programs, and informs people about the complications possible in the early and late post op period.

The national kidney foundation of the US has a battery of apps at public disposal. Common people as well as health professionals can use the apps. Apart from those mentioned here the NKF has an eGFR calculator, a screening app for albuminuria, an app for relative risk, monitoring and nephrology referral in patients with CKD, My Food Coach, CRN pocket guide and an app for managing gout. The apps are well appreciated by the scientific community, with good ratings from users as well. All of them are available free on AppStore and Google Play.

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Kidney News

Kidney News is an app by the American Society of Nephrology providing access to its recent issues. The app itself comes free of cost at the AppStore and on Google Play. This makes it ultra easy to keep you updated with the latest. The issues can be downloaded one at a time, enlarged, and stored for reading offline.

IJN

The Indian Journal Of Nephrology also has an app, which provides free access to some of its issues. It is available free on AppStore and Google Play. The interface is trendy. Issues can be downloaded and stored in PDF format on the app.