Zoccali Carmine, Mallamaci Francesca
Renal Research Institute, New York, USA.
Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics (Biogem), Ariano Irpino, Italy.
Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2025 Apr 28;40(5):865-873. doi: 10.1093/ndt/gfae281.
The metaverse, a digital ecosystem characterized by the convergence of physical and virtual realities through technologies like virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) and mixed reality, is reshaping societal and economic landscapes. In healthcare, the metaverse promises to revolutionize service delivery and medical education by overcoming geographical barriers and democratizing access to information. However, challenges such as the digital divide and privacy concerns persist. Economically, the metaverse is projected to significantly boost global GDP, with healthcare sectors poised for substantial growth through innovations like virtual clinics and telemedicine. In nephrology, the metaverse offers new avenues for patient education, treatment planning, and collaborative research. The integration of VR and AR technologies can enhance patient engagement by providing interactive platforms for understanding their condition, treatment options and lifestyle modifications. This approach empowers patients to take an active role in managing their health, potentially improving adherence to treatment regimens and overall outcomes. Furthermore, VR applications in hemodialysis have shown promise in reducing treatment-related symptoms and improving psychological well-being. The development of virtual clinics for chronic kidney disease patients could facilitate remote monitoring and management, reducing the need for emergency dialysis and improving long-term patient outcomes. Despite the burgeoning interest and research in this field, the integration of VR and AR into routine clinical practice remains in its nascent stages. The potential of these technologies to enhance patient care, improve surgical precision and provide immersive educational experiences is immense, paving the way for a future where technology and medicine are intricately linked.
元宇宙是一个数字生态系统，其特点是通过虚拟现实（VR）、增强现实（AR）和混合现实等技术实现物理现实与虚拟现实的融合，正在重塑社会和经济格局。在医疗保健领域，元宇宙有望通过克服地理障碍和使信息获取民主化来彻底改变服务提供和医学教育。然而，数字鸿沟和隐私问题等挑战依然存在。在经济方面，元宇宙预计将显著推动全球GDP增长，医疗保健行业通过虚拟诊所和远程医疗等创新有望实现大幅增长。在肾脏病学领域，元宇宙为患者教育、治疗规划和合作研究提供了新途径。VR和AR技术的整合可以通过提供互动平台来增强患者参与度，以帮助他们了解自己的病情、治疗选择和生活方式调整。这种方法使患者能够在管理自己的健康方面发挥积极作用，有可能提高对治疗方案的依从性和总体治疗效果。此外，VR在血液透析中的应用已显示出在减轻与治疗相关的症状和改善心理健康方面的潜力。为慢性肾病患者开发虚拟诊所可以促进远程监测和管理，减少紧急透析的需求并改善患者的长期治疗效果。尽管该领域的兴趣和研究迅速发展，但VR和AR融入常规临床实践仍处于起步阶段。这些技术在提升患者护理、提高手术精度和提供沉浸式教育体验方面的潜力巨大，为技术与医学紧密相连的未来铺平了道路。
