DRINK Fluid Intake Trial HW

This application has been created for DRINK, a water intake study based in Cambridge. The study will recruit participants with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (also known as ADPKD or PKD), who will then be divided into two groups. The first group (HW group) will be given an individual daily water prescription (between 2-4 litres) to produce urine that is dilute enough to stop the body making the hormone vasopressin. Suppression of this hormone is important, as it drives cyst growth. The second group (AW group) will continue their usual drinking practices.

This application will be used as a monitoring tool within the trial. It will allow participants to measure their urine concentration at home using a simple dipstick test. Participants can record and graph the dipstick results, enabling them to adjustment their fluid intake accordingly to reach their urine concentration targets. Participants will also be able to record daily fluid intake and complete pain and quality of life questionnaires.

The main aim of DRINK is to determine whether it is possible and safe for people to drink enough fluid to stop the body from producing vasopressin, and also to see if participants can effectively use and interpret a home urine test. DRINK will give us the information we need to design a larger study to see whether drinking the right amount of water can preserve kidney function for longer.