Evolution of home hemodialysis monitoring systems

Systems for monitoring hemodialysis patients at home have evolved during the past 30 years. They consist of hardware and software to record dialysis events from the home hemodialysis machine and transmit them to a server, which in turn sends the data to a remote central monitoring center. Most of the parameters monitored are related to machine function and events. At present, the only commonly monitored patient vital functions are pulse and blood pressure. The early systems used direct telephone lines and modem for telecommunication. The use of Internet links reduces the cost of the service and provides fast and safe transmission of the data. The actual value of these monitoring systems, the need for additional monitoring options, indications for specific groups of patients dialyzing at home, and acceptance by patients, physicians, and regulators will require further evaluation.