Prevalence and correlates of physical activity across kidney disease stages: an observational multicentre study

BACKGROUND

People with chronic kidney disease (CKD) report high levels of physical inactivity, a major modifiable risk factor for morbidity and mortality. Understanding the biological, psychosocial and demographic causes of physical activity behaviour is essential for the development and improvement of potential health interventions and promotional initiatives. This study investigated the prevalence of physical inactivity and determined individual correlates of this behaviour in a large sample of patients across the spectrum of kidney disease.

METHODS

A total of 5656 people across all stages of CKD (1-2, 3, 4-5, haemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis and renal transplant recipients) were recruited from 17 sites in England from July 2012 to October 2018. Physical activity was evaluated using the General Practice Physical Activity Questionnaire. Self-reported cardiorespiratory fitness, self-efficacy and stage of change were also assessed. Binominal generalized linear mutually adjusted models were conducted to explore the associations between physical activity and correlate variables. This cross-sectional observational multi-centre study was registered retrospectively as ISRCTN87066351 (October 2015).

RESULTS

The prevalence of physical activity (6-34%) was low and worsened with disease progression. Being older, female and having a greater number of comorbidities were associated with greater odds of being physically inactive. Higher haemoglobin, cardiorespiratory fitness and self-efficacy levels were associated with increased odds of being active. Neither ethnicity nor smoking history had any effect on physical activity.

CONCLUSIONS

Levels of physical inactivity are high across all stages of CKD. The identification of stage-specific correlates of physical activity may help to prioritize factors in target groups of kidney patients and improve the development and improvement of public health interventions.

Outcome Expectations for Exercise and Decisional Balance Questionnaires Predict Adherence and Efficacy of Exercise Programs in Dialysis Patients

The purpose of this study was to define if Outcomes Expectations for Exercise (OEE) and Decisional Balance (DB) scales predict adherence to guided exercise programs and associate with the improvement in physical performance in the dialysis population. Participants (n = 40; age 63.6 ± 12.5 years) completed OEE and DB questionnaires before randomization to the experimental group (n = 20) and control group (n = 20) of a two-phased exercise program—the experimental group received eight weeks of supervised functional exercise and exercise counseling (1st phase) before commencing eight weeks of home-based exercise on non-dialysis days (2nd phase). Both groups performed intradialytic cycling on dialysis days during both study phases. Patients with above-median OEE and DB scores (>3.15 and >1.3, respectively) expressed significantly better adherence to intradialytic cycling (89% vs. 76%, 89% vs. 77%, respectively, p < 0.05). Experimental group patients with an above-median OEE (but not DB) score had significantly better adherence to supervised and home-based functional exercise (93% vs. 81% and 85% vs. 60%, respectively, p < 0.05). Baseline DB score predicted the final result in the hand-grip test and 6-min walk test. Low OEE and, to a lesser degree, low DB questionnaire scores associate with inferior adherence to dialysis bundled and home-based exercise programs and may help define patient subsets in need of intensified motivational input by exercise caregivers.

A bundled phosphate control intervention (4Ds) for adults with end-stage kidney disease receiving haemodialysis: A cluster randomized controlled trial protocol

AIM

To evaluate the effectiveness of a bundled self-management intervention (Taking control of your phosphate with the 4Ds) to improve phosphate control among adults receiving haemodialysis.

BACKGROUND

Hyperphosphataemia occurs in end-stage kidney disease and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. While hyperphosphataemia can be managed through four methods (food, drinks, drugs and dialysis) adherence to these methods is challenging for patients. Studies also tend to focus on one method of phosphate control rather than bundling all methods together into a theoretically driven intervention.

DESIGN

A multisite cluster randomized controlled trial with repeated measures.

METHODS

Adults receiving haemodialysis with high serum phosphate levels (>1.6 millimoles per litre for at least 3 months) will be cluster randomized to standard care or intervention according to haemodialysis treatment shift. Informed by social cognitive theory, the intervention focuses on improving self-efficacy and incorporates the "teach-back" method of patient education. The intervention brings together essential phosphate control strategies of diet, drinks, drugs (phosphate binders) and dialysis prescription in a 12-week self-management education programme. The primary outcome is serum phosphate level. Secondary outcomes are knowledge of and adherence to phosphate control strategies and self-efficacy for managing kidney disease.

DISCUSSION

Efforts to improve phosphate control have been undertaken although the optimal approach remains unclear. This study will make an important contribution to building an evidence base of phosphate control nursing intervention that can be delivered during routine haemodialysis.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry Number ACTRN12617000703303.

Self-Efficacy and Blood Pressure Self-Care Behaviors in Patients on Chronic Hemodialysis

This study examined the effects of an educative, self-regulation intervention on blood pressure self-efficacy, self-care outcomes, and blood pressure control in adults receiving hemodialysis. Simple randomization was done at the hemodialysis unit level. One hundred eighteen participants were randomized to usual care ( n = 59) or intervention group ( n = 59). The intervention group received blood pressure education sessions and 12 weeks of individual counseling on self-regulation of blood pressure, fluid, and salt intake. There was no significant increase in self-efficacy scores within ( F = .55, p = .46) or between groups at 12 weeks ( F = 2.76, p = .10). Although the intervention was not successful, results from the total sample ( N = 118) revealed that self-efficacy was significantly related to a number of self-care outcomes including decreased salt intake, lower interdialytic weight gain, increased adherence to blood pressure medications, and fewer missed hemodialysis appointments. Increased blood pressure self-efficacy was also associated with lower diastolic blood pressure.