Table 1.
Baseline characteristics of study population
| Control (n = 32) | Telemedicine (n = 32) | P value | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age, yr mean (SD) | 64.41 | 12 | 63.37 | 12.74 | 0.74 |
| Female sex, (%) | 11 | 34.40% | 11 | 34.40% | 1.00 |
| Transplant, (%) | 16 | 50.00% | 16 | 50.00% | 1.00 |
| Caucasian race, (%) | 32 | 100% | 32 | 100% | 1.00 |
| Primary renal disease | 0.07 | ||||
| Diabetes | 9 | 28.1% | 2 | 6.3% | |
| Hypertension | 2 | 6.3% | 4 | 12.5% | |
| Vascular | 2 | 6.3% | 5 | 15.6% | |
| Glomerulonephritis | 6 | 18.8% | 13 | 40.6% | |
| Cystic disease | 2 | 6.3% | 1 | 3.1% | |
| Other | 11 | 34.4% | 7 | 21.9% | |
| Time since transplantation, yr [IQR] | 4.74 | [2.39– 9.47] | 0.95 | [0.57– 5.54] | 0.13 |
| Smoking statusa | 0.59 | ||||
| Current/former | 17 | 53.1% | 18 | 56.3% | |
| Never | 15 | 46.9% | 12 | 37.5% | |
| Comorbidities | |||||
| Diabetes | 13 | 40.6% | 10 | 31.3% | 0.43 |
| Peripheral vascular disease | 3 | 9.4% | 1 | 3.1% | 0.30 |
| Ischemic heart disease | 6 | 18.8% | 4 | 12.5% | 0.49 |
| Medication use | |||||
| ACEi or ARB | 22 | 68.8% | 22 | 68.8% | 1.00 |
| Loop diuretic | 7 | 21.9% | 7 | 21.9% | 1.00 |
| β-Blocker or CCB | 16 | 50.0% | 12 | 37.5% | 0.31 |
| Corticosteroid | 15 | 46.9% | 18 | 56.3% | 0.45 |
| Azathioprine | 1 | 3.1% | 1 | 3.1% | 1.00 |
| Mycophenolate | 13 | 40.6% | 16 | 50.0% | 0.45 |
| Tacrolimus or cyclosporin | 13 | 40.6% | 13 | 40.6% | 1.00 |
| Sirolimus or everolimus | 2 | 6.3% | 2 | 6.3% | 1.00 |
| Household characteristics | |||||
| Home computer (%)b | 27 | 84.4% | 26 | 81.3% | 0.53 |
| Home Internet (%)b | 28 | 87.5% | 25 | 78.1% | 0.19 |
| Income (AUD) | 0.69 | ||||
| < $30k | 17 | 53.1% | 12 | 37.5% | |
| $30k to $60k | 8 | 25.0% | 9 | 28.1% | |
| $60k to $100k | 3 | 9.4% | 3 | 9.4% | |
| > $100k | 1 | 3.1% | 2 | 6.3% | |
| Declined to answer | 3 | 9.4% | 6 | 18.8% | |
| Employment status | |||||
| Retired | 23 | 71.9% | 19 | 59.4% | 0.26 |
| Occupation unknown | 2 | 6.3% | 2 | 6.3% | |
| Metabolic parameters | |||||
| Creatinine, μmol/l [IQR] | 155.5 | [108.5–215] | 129 | [94–185] | 0.49 |
| eGFR, ml/min per 1.73 m2 [IQR] | 37 | [23–58] | 50 | [26–60.50] | 0.46 |
| Systolic BP, mm Hg (SD) | 132.4 | 16.3 | 134.9 | 15.2 | 0.53 |
| Diastolic BP, mm Hg (SD) | 75.1 | 11.3 | 77.8 | 8.5 | 0.29 |
| Cholesterol, mmol/l [IQR] | 4.05 | [3.5–4.85] | 4.75 | [3.85–5.5] | 0.19 |
| BMI, kg/m2 [IQR] | 28.93 | [24.5–35.3] | 28.11 | [25.3–30.8] | 0.65 |
| HbA1c, %c [IQR] | 7.1 | [5.9–8.2] | 6.55 | [6.1–7.8] | 0.78 |
| Satisfaction, Likert scale score 0−10 [IQR] | 10 | [10–10] | 10 | [10–10] | 0.15 |
Data are presented as n (%), mean (standard deviation), or median [interquartile range].
ACEi, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor; ARB, angiotensin receptor blocker; AUD, Australian dollars; BMI, body mass index; BP, blood pressure; CCB, calcium channel blocker; eGFR, estimated glomerular filtration rate.
a
Two absent in telemedicine group.
b
One absent in control group.
c
Includes only diabetic patients (control, n = 13; telemedicine, n = 10),