A softer path for kidney disease: could palliative care ease the burden?
NCT ID NCT07741357
First seen Aug 03, 2026 · Last updated Aug 04, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This trial tests whether adding palliative care to standard treatment helps people with advanced chronic kidney disease (stages 4 and 5, including those on dialysis) feel better. Participants are randomly assigned to receive either usual kidney care or usual care plus integrated kidney palliative care, which focuses on managing symptoms, understanding illness, planning future care, and addressing social or spiritual needs. The study tracks changes in symptom burden and quality of life to see if this extra layer of support makes a meaningful difference.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Integrated kidney palliative care (a behavioral intervention combining symptom assessment, goals-of-care discussions, advance care planning, and social/spiritual support)
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this approach could become a standard part of kidney care, helping people with advanced chronic kidney disease feel better day-to-day and live with less distress.
- What could go wrong
- The trial is still in an early phase, and the benefit may be modest or vary from person to person. Adding palliative care could also be hard to roll out widely in busy clinics.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Emory University
Atlanta, Georgia, 30322, United States
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NYU Langone Health
New York, New York, 10016, United States
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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