Patient monitoring in a pragmatic, multicenter trial of incremental hemodialysis: early experience from the TwoPlus randomized controlled trial

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BACKGROUND: Pragmatic randomized controlled trials (RCTs) must be embedded within routine clinical workflows, which require monitoring strategies that are feasible in everyday practice. Incremental hemodialysis—initiating treatment twice weekly in patients with preserved residual kidney function and escalating frequency as needed—differs from conventional thrice-weekly initiation. Implementing this approach in a pragmatic trial among providers and dialysis staff unfamiliar with incremental dialysis necessitated additional preparation and oversight. The TwoPlus trial is a multicenter pragmatic RCT evaluating incremental versus conventional initiation of chronic hemodialysis. We describe the patient monitoring framework developed for TwoPlus, which integrates digital infrastructure, human touchpoints, and provider engagement to ensure participant safety. METHODS/DESIGN: TwoPlus is an ongoing multicenter RCT enrolling adults initiating chronic hemodialysis with residual kidney function (urine urea clearance ≥ 2.0 mL/min and urine output ≥ 500 mL/24 hours). Participants are randomized to incremental hemodialysis—twice-weekly treatment supported by diuretics and sodium bicarbonate, with transition to thrice-weekly as clinically indicated—or conventional thrice-weekly initiation. The primary outcome is a composite of all-cause death, hospitalization, or emergency department visits. Secondary outcomes include preservation of residual kidney function and treatment adherence. The monitoring framework combines automated dialysis data downloads, manual data abstraction, assessments conducted by investigators or clinical research coordinators and reviewed at the site level, structured team reviews, and regular communication with treating providers. DISCUSSION: This layered monitoring model balances feasibility, safety, and fidelity in a pragmatic trial where provider engagement and site-specific adaptation were essential. The monitoring approach adopted in TwoPlus will inform the design of monitoring frameworks for future pragmatic nephrology trials. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT05828823.

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