Abstract: FR-PO0042
A Digital Health Self-Management Intervention Improves Physical Function and Reduces Sarcopenia Risk in People Living with Nondialysis-Dependent CKD
Session Information
- Artificial Intelligence: Clinical Prediction, Decision Support, and Digital Kidney Care
October 23, 2026 | Location: Exhibit Hall A, Convention Center
Abstract Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Category: Artificial Intelligence, Digital Health, and Data Science
- 300 Artificial Intelligence, Digital Health, and Data Science
Authors
- Hudson, Ralph Henry Lloyd, University of Leicester, Leicester, England, United Kingdom
- Lightfoot, Courtney Jane, University of Leicester Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Leicester, England, United Kingdom
- Sohansoha, Gurneet Kaur, University of Leicester Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Leicester, England, United Kingdom
- Ford, Ella C., School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds, United Kingdom
- Vadaszy, Noemi, University of Leicester Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Leicester, England, United Kingdom
- Wilkinson, Thomas James, Department of Global, Lifestyle and Metabolic Health, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
- Graham-Brown, Matthew, University of Leicester Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Leicester, United Kingdom
Background
Sarcopenia affects approximately 1 in 4 people with CKD and is associated with increased mortality. However, evidence for the effect of digital health interventions on physical function and sarcopenia risk in non-dialysis CKD remains limited. The 'My Kidneys & Me' (MK&M) digital platform was co-developed with people living with CKD to support broader health and lifestyle self-management. MK&M offers theory-based education alongside action-focused (behavior change) sessions on maintaining and improving physical function, complemented by tools to track physical activity and strength-related goals.
Methods
420 adults aged ≥18 years with CKD stages 3–4 were recruited from 26 hospitals and randomized 2:1 to intervention (MK&M; n=280) or control (usual care; n=140). Risk of sarcopenia using the SARC-F (Strength, Assistance with walking, Rise from a chair, Climb stairs, Falls) questionnaire and physical function using the STS-60 (Sit-to-Stand Test) were assessed at baseline and 20 weeks. The SARC-F is a five-item tool assessing strength and functional limitations (lower scores indicate lower sarcopenia risk), and the STS-60 measures lower-limb function as the number of sit-to-stand repetitions completed in 60 seconds (higher scores indicate better performance). ANCOVA analyses compared SARC-F and STS-60 scores at 20 weeks between groups, controlling for baseline values, age and sex. Analyses were conducted using complete-case (CC) and per-protocol (PP; ≥1 login by week 10; n=210) approaches. Results reported as (mean difference [95% CI], p-value).
Results
Significant reductions in SARC-F scores were observed in both CC and PP analyses (CC: −0.29 [−0.56, −0.02], p=0.037; PP: −0.31 [−0.60, −0.03], p=0.032). Improved STS-60 scores were observed for the MK&M group compared with usual care (CC: 2.06 [−0.11, 4.23], p=0.062), reaching significance for PP analyses (PP: 2.58 [0.57, 4.59], p=0.012).
Conclusion
The use of MK&M was associated with reduced risk of sarcopenia and improved physical function amongst those who engaged with MK&M. The findings support the potential of digital health interventions like MK&M to target physical function in people living with non-dialysis CKD.