Artificial intelligence tools can be valuable partners in managing kidney disease, helping you learn medical terms and organize your thoughts before appointments, but they should never substitute for guidance from your healthcare team. As AI chatbots become more accessible, kidney disease patients are increasingly turning to them for health information. However, the American Kidney Fund is urging caution, emphasizing that while AI can support your kidney health journey, it has real limitations that make it unsuitable for diagnosis or treatment decisions.

How Can AI Actually Help With Kidney Health?

AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Copilot work best as learning and planning resources rather than decision-making authorities. They excel at breaking down complex medical concepts into plain language, helping you prepare questions for your nephrologist, and organizing health information in clearer ways. The key is asking the right questions and using AI to prepare for conversations with your care team, not to replace them.

• Explaining Medical Terms: Ask AI to define kidney disease terminology in simple language so you understand what your doctor is discussing during appointments.
• Clarifying Lab Results: Share your specific numbers (like eGFR or uACR values) and ask AI to explain what they mean for your kidney health, then verify the information with your nephrologist.
• Preparing for Appointments: Use AI to create lists of questions to ask before starting dialysis, joining a clinical trial, or considering a kidney transplant.
• Understanding Treatment Options: Ask AI for general information about kidney-friendly eating or new medications so you can have informed discussions with your dietitian or doctor.
• Organizing Your Concerns: If you have a short appointment, ask AI to help you prioritize your talking points based on your health concerns.

The more specific your question, the more useful the response. Instead of asking "Do I need dialysis?" try "What are some signs that kidney disease may be getting worse?" or "What questions should I ask my kidney doctor about preparing for dialysis?" These targeted questions help you prepare for conversations with your care team rather than relying on AI to make decisions for you.

What Are the Major Risks of Trusting AI for Kidney Health Decisions?

AI systems are programmed to be helpful and keep conversations flowing, even when they provide inaccurate information. This phenomenon, called a "hallucination," can be dangerous when it comes to health decisions. AI can make up facts, cite studies that don't exist, provide outdated medical information, confuse similar conditions or medications, leave out critical safety information, or give answers that don't account for your personal health history.

Never use AI for emergencies or sudden symptoms. If you experience chest pain, trouble breathing, severe swelling, confusion, fainting, or any symptoms that feel sudden or serious, call 911 immediately. AI cannot assess the urgency of your situation or provide emergency care guidance.

How to Use AI Safely for Kidney Health Information

• Protect Your Privacy: Never share personal information like your full name, address, Social Security number, insurance details, or medical record number. If you want help understanding lab results, share only the numbers themselves, not documents containing sensitive information.
• Double-Check All Information: Before using any health information from AI, verify it through trusted sources like patient education materials from reputable health systems, medical organizations, disease-specific foundations, and your healthcare team. Compare information across multiple credible sources to ensure accuracy.
• Discuss AI Findings With Your Doctor: Bring questions generated by AI to your appointments and ask your nephrologist to confirm or clarify the information. Your doctor knows your complete health picture and can provide personalized guidance.
• Use Specific Prompts: Frame questions around your actual lab values or symptoms. For example: "My eGFR changed from [previous number] to [current number]. Explain what can cause eGFR to change and help me prepare questions to ask my doctor about whether this change is significant."

"AI can be a helpful tool when you are living with kidney disease. But AI cannot replace your kidney care team. Use AI as a partner in learning, while relying on your doctors for medical advice and treatment decisions," stated the American Kidney Fund.

American Kidney Fund

The goal is to become a more informed patient who can actively participate in your kidney health decisions. AI can help you arrive at doctor's appointments better prepared, with clearer questions and a stronger understanding of your condition. However, the final decisions about your care should always rest with your nephrologist and healthcare team, who have access to your complete medical history, can perform physical examinations, and understand the nuances of your individual situation.