Five months of physical exercise in hemodialysis patients: effects on aerobic capacity, physical function and self-rated health.
BACKGROUND
The number of chronic renal failure patients treated by hemodialysis (HD) is continuously increasing. Most patients have reduced physical capacity and have a high risk of cardiac and vascular diseases. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of 5 months physical exercise of HD patients' physical capacity, self-rated health and risk factors for cardiovascular disease.


METHODS
33 HD patients were included in the study.


METHODS
HD for more than 3 months, age >18 years.


METHODS
Diabetes mellitus, symptomatic cardiovascular disease, musculoskeletal limitations, severe peripheral polyneuropathy, inability to speak Danish or English, dementia or other mental disorders. The patients were randomly assigned to an exercise group (EG, n = 22) or a control group (CG, n = 11). Prior to randomization, baseline testing was performed. The effects were measured by aerobic capacity, '2-min stair climbing', 'squat test', self-rated health (SF36), blood pressure and lipids. All tests were carried out by blinded testers. The intervention consisted of 1 h of physical exercise twice a week for 5 months.


RESULTS
20 patients completed the intervention. Attendance was 74% of all sessions. There were no dropouts caused by complications related to the intervention. The EG had a significant increase in aerobic capacity, 'squat test' and Physical Function and Physical Component Scale (SF36). No significant changes were observed in any of the parameters in the CG.


CONCLUSIONS
Physical exercise twice a week for 5 months increases physical function and aerobic capacity in HD patients. An exercise program with only two exercise sessions per week seems easy to implement in clinical practice with high attendance among participants. Further investigation is needed to determine the effects on blood pressure and lipids. There were no medical complications related to the exercise program.
Molsted
Stig
S
Department of Medical Orthopaedic and Rehabilitation, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Denmark. moelsted@ofir.dk
Eidemak
Inge
I
Sorensen
Helle Tauby
HT
Kristensen
Jens Halkjaer
JH
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure; D015444:Exercise; D017079:Exercise Tolerance; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010809:Physical Fitness; D011788:Quality of Life; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D016037:Single-Blind Method
D008055:Lipids