Synthetic data as an investigative tool in hypertension and renal diseases research

Abstract

There is a growing body of clinical research on the utility of synthetic data derivatives, an emerging research tool in medicine. In nephrology, clinicians can use machine learning and artificial intelligence as powerful aids in their clinical decision-making while also preserving patient privacy. This is especially important given the epidemiology of chronic kidney disease, renal oncology, and hypertension worldwide. However, there remains a need to create a framework for guidance regarding how to better utilize synthetic data as a practical application in this research.

Keywords: Synthetic data; Artificial intelligence; Nephrology; Blood pressure; Research; Editorial

Core Tip: The application of synthetic data may help accelerate research development as a tool coupled with traditional, established research datasets. However, this tool is still in its early stages in this clinical area. The current literature focuses on three major areas as of current including renal cell carcinoma, chronic kidney disease, and blood pressure and hypertension.