NCT06310161

Light Therapy in End Stage Kidney Disease

Bright Light Therapy to Treat Fatigue in End Stage Kidney Disease

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 60 (estimated)
• Sponsor: University of Pennsylvania · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to test light therapy in patients with end stage kidney disease who are receiving hemodialysis. The main aim is to determine if light therapy decreases fatigue severity. Participants will receive light therapy using special glasses for one hour during the dialysis sessions for four weeks of treatment.

Detailed description

In a single site, 2-arm (Bright Light Therapy group; Dim Light Group), parallel, randomized controlled trial we will enroll 60 subjects (n=30 per group) to assess the effects of Bright Light Therapy compared to Dim Light Therapy in subjects with end stage kidney disease who are receiving hemodialysis to treat fatigue. * To compare the effects of bright light therapy to dim light therapy on fatigue severity. * To explore the effects of bright light therapy to dim light therapy on salivary cortisol. * To compare the effects of bright light therapy to dim light therapy on insomnia, depression and quality of life. * To test the effects on bright light therapy to dim light therapy on physical activity levels.

Conditions

• End Stage Renal Disease

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DEVICE	Bright light	Bright light treatment will consist of using the Re-timer device 3 times per week during dialysis sessions for 4 weeks. The Re-timer is worn like a pair of glasses and contains light emitting diodes mounted on the lower portion of the frame. The Re-timer emits blue-green 500 nm light with an intensity of \~500 lux lm/m2. Participants will be instructed to use the device for 60 minutes at the beginning of each dialysis session.
DEVICE	Dim Light	Dim light treatment will use non-light emitting glasses that look identical to Re-Timer for 4 weeks at each dialysis session following baseline assessments. Participants will use the device for 60 minutes at the beginning of their dialysis session.

Timeline

• Start date: 2026-02-01
• Primary completion: 2026-06-01
• Completion: 2026-08-01
• First posted: 2024-03-15
• Last updated: 2026-03-27

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States