iChooseKidney
When facing end-stage kidney disease, selecting the most appropriate path forward can feel overwhelming. Many patients miss out on personalized, clear survival prognoses when evaluating dialysis versus deceased or living donor transplantation.
Developed by researchers and clinicians at Emory University and Regenstrief Institute, iChooseKidney translates massive population datasets into individualized, accessible risk estimates. It equips individuals and clinical teams with actionable data to engage in shared, informed healthcare decisions.
Core Features
Individualized Estimates
The calculator incorporates specific factors—including patient age, dialysis vintage, cardiovascular history, diabetes, and albumin status—to generate personalized projections rather than generalized assumptions.
1- and 3-Year Prognoses
Users receive comparative risk and survival estimates across 1-year and 3-year timelines, mapping the difference between staying on dialysis versus receiving a deceased or living donor transplant.
Patient-Friendly Visuals
Complex biostatistical models are displayed through intuitive visuals, plain language, and printable or emailable reports, ensuring clear communication between clinicians and families.
Evidence Base & Data Security
The prediction algorithms behind iChooseKidney were derived and validated using national registry data from hundreds of thousands of kidney disease patients tracked through the United States Renal Data System. The tool functions strictly as an educational decision aid and does not store patient data, automatically clearing inputs after each session to safeguard individual privacy.