Swedish kidney care provider Diaverum has launched renal.com, an AI-powered health assistant designed to improve access to kidney health education.
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is one of the fastest growing global health challenges and one of the most costly chronic diseases for healthcare systems. In the UK, it costs the NHS around £6.4 billion a year.
Rafael Romanini, CEO of Diaverum, said: “At Diaverum, combining science with compassion to achieve significant advances in kidney care is at the core of our DNA.
“With kidney.comWe’re extending that philosophy to the digital world, using AI-based education to make kidney health knowledge accessible, relevant and practical to everyone, anywhere, 24/7.
“This initiative reflects our broader commitment to helping people live full lives while supporting the sustainability of health systems through education, prevention and innovation.”
Studies suggest that well-informed patients are 32% less likely to be hospitalized and 14% less likely to visit emergency departments. However, up to 90% of people do not know they have CKD until it is in an advanced stage, and many lack the knowledge and resources necessary to slow its progression.
The renal.com platform includes a conversational AI interface trained on clinical sources, with evidence-based content on chronic and acute kidney diseases. Features include voice control, product label interpretation via file upload, and multilingual support. English, French, German, Portuguese and Arabic are currently available, with additional languages planned.
It was developed in collaboration with more than 30 nephrologists, doctors and nurses from 13 countries and completing more than 14,000 chat interactions during the testing phase to prepare the platform for real-world use.
Dr Fernando Macário, medical director of Diaverum’s parent company, M42, added: “Education has always been at the heart of good medicine. When people understand their illness, they become more involved and empowered in their care.
“Evidence consistently shows that this improves adherence, reduces complications and directly contributes to better outcomes. Kidney.com translates the complex and specific knowledge of kidney care into simple, evidence-based guidance that enhances, not replaces, the vital role of physicians.
“It supports healthcare teams by fostering informed conversations and shared decision-making, helping clinicians provide more personalized, preventative and effective care.”
Kidney.com has launched in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Portugal and the United Arab Emirates, with other markets to follow.
