A nurse-led home-based exercise program for patients with chronic kidney disease.

BACKGROUND: Exercise programs in patients with kidney disease improve functional capacity and health-related quality of life, but the implementation of exercise programs in nephrology services is not an easy task. AIM: To evaluate the effectiveness of a home-based exercise program in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) stages 4-5 (with or without dialysis). METHODS: A 12-week prospective observational cohort design study was carried out with patients with renal failure who undertook a home-based exercise program. Registered data included: (a) biochemical parameters; (b) functional capacity tests, that is, short physical performance battery, sit to stand to sit 10, and 6-min walking test; (c) handgrip strength; (d) health-related quality of life; (e) satisfaction; and (f) adherence. The quantitative variables were expressed by means and standard deviation, and qualitative variables, by percentage. The comparison of quantitative data between baseline and at 12 weeks of the same group was carried out using the Wilcoxon test for nonparametric-related variables and the chi-square test for categorical variables using contingency tables. RESULTS: Fifty-three patients were included (mean age = 67.4 years). The functional capacity tests showed a significant improvement in the short physical performance battery (8.3 ± 2.8 vs. 9.5 ± 2.6 points), the sit to stand to sit 10 (35.8 ± 17.7 vs. 31.8 ± 15.3 s), and the 6-min walking test (355.0 ± 106.1 vs. 386.4 ± 113.6 meters), mainly in CKD stage 5. There were no significant differences in handgrip and health-related quality of life. Regarding the degree of program satisfaction, 70% of the patients were very satisfied with being able to participate in the program, and 64% considered that they had more strength after completing the home-based exercise program. LINKING EVIDENCE TO ACTION: The implementation of a home-based exercise program results in improved functional capacity in patients with CKD stage 5. Moreover, this exercise program is safe, and patients were satisfied.

Home-based exercise programs in patients with chronic kidney disease: A systematic review and META-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Intradialysis exercise programs in renal patients result in improved functional capacity, muscle strength, symptoms of depression, and health-related quality of life. Home-based exercise programs are an alternative to overcome logistical and human resource problems. However, the implementation of these programs is not an easy task and there is a lack of knowledge regarding the benefits associated with home-based exercise programs. AIM: To determine whether home-based exercise programs improve functional capacity, health-related quality of life, muscle strength, and symptoms of depression among patients with stage III-V chronic kidney disease. METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analyses following PRISMA guidelines were utilized. Relevant articles were collected and independently assessed for their inclusion eligibility. Effects of home-based exercise were summarized by the standardized mean differences and represented by forest plots (Review Manager 5.4). RESULTS: Eight studies were included, none of which reported any adverse effects. The intervention was usually aerobic, 76% of these programs lasted 3-6 months, and exercise adherence was 60-87.5%. Four studies measured health-related quality of life and found significant improvements in several subscales. Regarding functional capacity, five studies used the six-minute walking test (44.9 meters; 95% CI [30.45, 59.30]; p ≤ .001), three studies used the sit-to-stand-to-sit test (-0.45 seconds; 95% CI [-0.46, -0.26]; p ≤ .001), and two studies used the timed up-and-go test (-0.76 seconds; 95% CI [-1.38, -0.15]; p ≤ .001) and the handgrip strength test (1.16 kg; 95% CI [-2.88, 5.20]; p ≤ .001). LINKING EVIDENCE TO ACTION: Home-based exercise programs are beneficial to renal patients. These interventions are safe and effective to improve health-related quality of life and functional capacity and reduce symptoms of depression among patients with chronic kidney disease.

Impact of measurement timing on reproducibility of testing among haemodialysis patients.

Accurate evaluation of physical function in patients undergoing haemodialysis is crucial in the analysis of the impact of exercise programs in this population. The aim of this study was to evaluate the reproducibility of several physical functional tests, depending on the timing of their implementation (before the HD session vs. non-HD days). This is a prospective, non-experimental, descriptive study. Thirty patients in haemodialysis were evaluated twice, 1 week apart. The test session was performed before the haemodialysis session started and a retest was performed in non-dialysis day. The testing battery included the short physical performance battery, sit-to-stand tests, 6 min walk test, one-leg stand test, timed up and go, and handgrip strength with and without forearm support. The intra-rater reproducibility was determined by the intraclass correlation coefficients and the agreement was assessed by Bland-Altman analysis. The intraclass correlation coefficients values ranged from 0.86 to 0.96, so that all tests showed good to very good relative reliability. The mean differences between trials of sit to stand 10 and 60, timed up and go and all the handgrip tests were close to zero, indicating no systematic differences between trials. Large range of values between trials was observed for the 6 min walk test, gait speed, one-leg stand test and short physical performance battery, indicating a systematic bias for these four tests. In conclusion,  the sit to stand 10 and 60, timed up and go and handgrip tests had good to excellent test-retest reliability in measuring physical function in different dialysis days of patients undertaking haemodialysis. The minimal detectable change values are provided for this population. Bias were found for the 6 min walk test, gait speed, Short physical performance battery or one-leg stand test when the testing day changed.

The Relationship between Physical Activity Levels and Functional Capacity in Patients with Advanced Chronic Kidney Disease.

The purpose of this study is to assess whether the functional capacity of patients with chronic kidney disease stage V (CKD-5D) is different depending on their physical activity levels. We also compared functional capacity, quality of life, and symptoms of depression depending on treatment modalities (HD vs. PD). A Cross-sectional study included 52 patients (35HD and 17PD; males 61.5%, mean age 71 years). The main measurements were physical activity level using the Human Activity Profile questionnaire (HAP), muscle strength, functional capacity, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and depressive symptomatology. The functional tests and physical activity levels correlated significantly. Participants on HD with low physical activity levels were older (*p ≤ .039) and had worst physical function (*p ≤ .01). The HAP is a useful tool to detect subjects with low functional capacity; there were no differences between the therapy modalities in terms of functional capacity, HRQoL, or depressive symptomatology.

Test-retest reliability and minimal detectable change scores for the short physical performance battery, one-legged standing test and timed up and go test in patients undergoing hemodialysis.

Functional tests are commonly used for chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD). However, the relative and absolute reliability of such physical performance-outcome assessments must first be determined in specific patient cohorts. The aims of this study were to assess the relative and the absolute reliability of the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), One-Legged Stance Test (OLST), and Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, as well as the minimal detectable change (MDC) scores for these tests in CKD patients receiving HD. Seventy-one end-stage CKD patients receiving HD therapy, aged between 21 and 90 years, participated in the study. The patients completed two testing sessions one to two weeks apart and performed by the same examiner, comprising the following tests: the SPPB (n = 65), OLST (n = 62), and TUG test (n = 66). High intraclass correlation coefficients (≥0.90) were found for all the tests, suggesting that their relative reliability is excellent. The MDC scores for the 90% confidence intervals were as follows: 1.7 points for the SPPB, 11.3 seconds for the OLST, and 2.9 seconds for the TUG test. The reliability of the SPPB, OLST, and TUG test for this sample were all considered to be acceptable. The MDC data generated by these tests can be used to monitor meaningful changes in the functional capacity of the daily living-related activity of CKD patients on HD.

Benefits of a low intensity exercise programme during haemodialysis sessions in elderly patients.

BACKGROUND: Elderly patients on haemodialysis (HD) are a steadily increasing group. They show a high complexity, dependency and comorbidity. Multiple benefits from exercise in HD patients have been reported; however, they have not been specifically evaluated in an elderly population. OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of an adapted low intensity intradialytic exercise programme on muscle strength, functional capacity and health-related quality of life in our elderly patients (> 80 years) on HD. MATERIAL AND METHODS: HD patients were non-randomly assigned to an exercise training group (E) or a control group (C) in a 12-week single-centre prospective study. E included a combined exercise programme using balls, weights, elastic bands and cycle movements in the first 2 hours of HD sessions. C group patients received standard HD care. Endpoints were: 1) main biochemical data; 2) maximum quadriceps length strength (MQLS) and hand-grip (HG); 3) functional capacity tests: "Sit to stand to sit" (STS10) and "six-minutes walking test" (6MWT); 4) Beck Depressive Inventory (BDI); and 5) Health-related quality of life questionnaire: EuroQol-5D (EQ-5D). RESULTS: A total of 22 patients were included (50% men). Mean age was 83.2 years; patients had received HD for 44.1 month. Charlson index was 9.5. Main aetiology was diabetes mellitus (36.4%). Eleven patients were assigned to E group and 11 to C group. No related adverse effects were observed. At the end of the study, E group showed an overall improvement in tests (*P<.05): MQLS 10.5 ± 7.6 vs. 12.9 ± 10.1 kg, HG* 16.6 ± 8.7 vs. 18.2 ± 8.9 kg, STS10* 29.9 ± 10.6 vs. 25 ± 7.87 sec, 6MWT* 14.6%, 234.4 vs. 274.7 m, BDI* 14.4 ± 11.5 vs. 11.7 ± 10.8 and EQ-5D 49 ± 19.1 vs. 59.5 ± 20.3. No similar changes were observed in C group. Significant differences between groups were also found for HG, MQLS, STS10, 6MWT, BDI and EQ-5D. No significant changes were found in biochemical and anthropometric data, antidepressant treatment or suitable dialysis parameters at the end of the study. CONCLUSIONS: 1) An adapted low intensity exercise programme improved muscle strength, functional capacity and health-related quality of life in our elderly patients on HD. 2) Our results highlight the benefits from exercise in HD patients even in this elderly population. 3) In elderly patients on HD, it is worth considering an adapted low intensity intradialytic exercise programme as a part of a comprehensive care.