The Mindful Kidney: Supporting Mindfulness for Adults With Chronic Kidney Disease

This study tests a digital mindfulness app called Calm Health among adults with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Participants will use the app for 6 weeks while wearing a wrist sensor that tracks sleep, physical activity, heart rate, and other health signals. The study will measure how acceptable and feasible the app is, and whether it may improve stress, anxiety, and quality of life. Participants will also receive health coaching and a personalized report showing how their mindfulness practice relates to their health data.

Inclusion Criteria: * Aged 18 to 80 years * Diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (CKD) for at least 6 months with at least two consecutive nephrology visits within the past year * Receiving CKD care at Yale Medicine Nephrology or Yale New Haven Hospital * Able to use a smartphone (study team will provide one if needed) * Able to read and write English Exclusion Criteria: * Current meditation or mindfulness practice meeting or exceeding 70 minutes per week over the past month * New or unstable psychopharmaceutical treatment in the past 2 months (stable maintenance therapy with no dose or medication changes for 8 or more weeks is acceptable) * Current intensive psychiatric treatment, defined as psychiatric hospitalization in the past 6 months, intensive outpatient program, or inpatient rehabilitation * Current or planned pregnancy in the next 6 months * Average resting blood pressure exceeding 160/100 mmHg based on readings available in the medical record, with reconfirmation by additional readings prior to exclusion if only an isolated reading in this range is available