title: Motor performance, exercise tolerance, and health-related quality of life in children on dialysis.
abstract: In contrast to the adult population, little is known regarding health-related quality of life and exercise tolerance in children with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) undergoing chronic intermittent hemodialysis. We designed a pilot study to investigate whether research into this area is indicated. The aim of this study was to describe the motor skills, exercise tolerance, and health-related quality of life in children with ESRD. The study population consisted of ten hemodialysis patients (aged 7-16 years). In eight children motor proficiency according to Bruininks-Oseretsky was determined. In all ten children a progressive exercise test on a treadmill was performed. The results were compared with an age-matched healthy reference group. Nine children filled in the TNO-AZL Child Quality of Life (TACQOL) scoring list. One child had a markedly reduced fine motor skills capacity; another five children scored < or = -2 SD compared with healthy children in gross motor skills. Seven children showed a diminished VO(2)max (per kilogram body weight); six of these are physically inactive. Four of these seven children did not sustain the maximum workload. The self-assessed physical and mental health of children on dialysis seems comparable to the general population. We found no correlation between exercise performance or motor skills and hemoglobin levels, Kt/V, and time on dialysis. In conclusion, in this study most children had a reduced exercise tolerance and gross motor skills. There was no difference in fine motor skills. Pediatric dialysis patients report a good health-related quality of life.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Physical Therapy and Exercise Physiology, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, University Medical Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands. M.J.C.Eijsermans@wkz.azu.nl
authors.forename: Rian M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Eijsermans
authors.forename: Desiree G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Creemers
authors.forename: Paul J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Helders
authors.forename: Cock H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Schröder
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005080:Exercise Test; D017079:Exercise Tolerance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D011788:Quality of Life; D006435:Renal Dialysis