Early Coaching to Increase Water Intake in CKD
Authors: Ivanova Mariia D. , Gozhenko Anatoliy I. , Crestanello Tommy , Ivanov Dmytro D. 
Published: March 2021

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> In observational studies, increased water intake improves kidney function but not in adults with CKD stage 3 and more. CKD WIT trial has shown a nonsignificant gradual decline in kidney function after 1 year of coaching to increase water intake (CIWI) [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="ref1">1</xref>]. We propose that CIWI may benefit in CKD stage 1–2 (G1 and G2) and depends on functional renal functional reserve (RFR) [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="ref2">2</xref>, <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="ref3">3</xref>]. <b><i>Objective:</i></b> Parallel-group randomized trial was aimed to determinate the effectiveness of CIWI dependence of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) stage and RFR in adults with CKD 1–2 stages. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> CKD WIT trial was taken as the basis for prospective multicenter randomized trial named “Early Coaching to Increase Water Intake in CKD (ECIWIC).” The primary outcome was the change in kidney function by eGFR from baseline to 12 months. Secondary outcomes included 1-year change in urine albumin/Cr ratio, and patient-reported overall quality of health (QH) ranged from 0 (worst possible) to 10 (best possible). CIWI aimed to have the diuresis being 1.7–2 L. There were 4 groups with nondiet sodium restriction which consisted of 31 patients each: 2 groups with CKD G1 and CKD G2, undergoing CIWI and 2 others with CKD G1 and CKD G2 without CIWI (Fig. 1a). Overall checks were made at 0, 6, and 12 months. RFR evaluation was performed using 0.45% sodium chloride oral solution. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Of our randomized 124 patients (mean age 53.2 years; men 83 [67%], 0 died), mean change in 24-h urine volume was 0.6 L per day in G1 with CIWI group and 0.5 L in G2. No statistically significant data on eGFR depending CIWI were obtained (Fig. <xref ref-type="fig" rid="f01">1</xref>b). However, the trend suggests that CIWI improves eGFR in CKD G1 (from 95 to 96 mL/min/1.73 m<sup>2</sup>) and preserves eGFR decline in CKD G2 (78–78). The QH values were also preserved (from 7 to 7 in G1 and G2 groups). Although coaching to maintain the same water intake did not preserve physiological and pathological eGFR decreasing in CKD G1-2 (G1 from 96 to 93, G2 from 76 to 73; <i>t</i> = 0.6, <i>p</i> = 0.29, and <i>p</i> ≤ 0.05 in all groups) and the QH was declined (from 7 to 6 in both groups). An individual analysis of the RFR has shown that patients with RFR more than 50% (G1 19 patients, 61%, and G2 13 patients, 42%) had reliable preservation of eGFR with its increase of 1.5 mL/min on CIWI, while patients with low functional renal reserve had a drop of eGFR at 1.1 mL/min/m<sup>2</sup> within 12 months. Patients with low normal serum sodium levels have shown worse results on CIWI. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> With CKD G1, the CIWI leads to the preservation of the renal function with its increase of GFR per 1 mL/min/m<sup>2</sup>/per year in comparison with the same water intake. In CKD G2, the CIWI prevents physiological and pathological loss of renal function, and RFR above 50% aids restoration of eGFR both in CKD G1-2. ECIWIC trial demonstrates benefit of CIWI in patients with CKD 1–2 and preserved RFR.