Evaluation of the effects of aerobic training during hemodialysis on autonomic heart rate modulation in patients with chronic renal disease

Emotional Intelligence in Hemodialysis Patients: The Impact of an Intradialytic Exercise Training Program

The current study aimed to investigate whether there is a relationship between emotional intelligence (EI), functional capacity, fatigue, cognitive function, and quality of life (QoL) in HD patients and to assess the effect of a 9-month intradialytic exercise training program on EI levels. Seventy-eight dialysis patients (50 M/28 F, 60.6 ± 17.2 years) participated in the cross-sectional study. Afterward, a subgroup of 18 patients (15 M/3 F, 56.7 ± 12.3 years) completed a 9-month supervised intradialytic exercise training program (three times weekly). EI was assessed by the Schutte Self Report Emotional Intelligence Test (SSEIT) and the Wong and Law Emotional Intelligence Scale (WLEIS). Functional capacity was assessed by a battery of tests. Sleep quality, depression levels, and daily sleepiness were assessed via validated questionnaires. All assessments were carried out before and after the intervention. A significant positive correlation was found between the WLEIS scores and the physical component summary of the QoL questionnaire. In contrast, the WLEIS scores were negatively associated with general and physical fatigue. The SSEIT scores were positively associated with cognitive function. After nine months of exercise training, only the group with low WLEIS scores improved their EI score significantly compared to the baseline values (98.7 ± 7.0 vs. 73.0 ± 4.0, p = 0.020), while no changes were observed in the medium or high EI groups. In conclusion, patients with higher levels of EI showed increased quality of life and lower levels of fatigue. Patients with low levels of EI are more likely to benefit from an exercise training program compared to their medium- and high-level counterparts.

Effects of Acute Exercise on Cardiac Autonomic Response and Recovery in Non-Dialysis Chronic Kidney Disease Patients

Purpose: Heart rate variability (HRV) has gained acceptance as a key marker of cardiovascular health. We compared HRV responses after continuous moderate-intensity exercise (CMIE) and high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE) matched for intensity and duration in individuals with midspectrum chronic kidney disease (CKD). Methods: Twenty men and women (age 62.0 ± 10 yrs.) diagnosed with CKD stages G3a and G3b participated in a 2 (condition) x 4 (time point) repeated cross-over measures design study. HRV time-domain indices were based on the standard deviation of all NN intervals (SDNN) and the square root of the mean of the sum of the squares of differences between adjacent NN intervals (RMSSD) and frequency domain. High-frequency (HF), low-frequency (LF), total power (TP) were examined. CMIE consisted of treadmill walking for 30 minutes at a 2% incline and speed corresponding to 60%-65% of reserve volume of oxygen (VO2R). HIIE included five intervals of 3 minutes at 90% of VO2R and 2 minutes at 20% VO2R intervals. Conditions were designed to be of the same average intensity (60% to 65% of VO2R) and caloric expenditure (~144 kcal). Results: Immediately following exercise SDNN, RMSSD, HF, LF, and TP were significantly lower compared to before exercise (p <.05). HRV responses were not different between conditions and conditions X time (p >.05). Conclusions: Thirty minutes of either CMIE or HIIE decreased HRV indices, pointing to an autonomic imbalance favoring vagal mediation. HRV's responses regarding HIIE were no different from CMIE, therefore, from an autonomic function point of view this similarity may be useful for CKD exercise prescription and programming.

Heart rate variability in people with visual disability: Study Protocol

INTRODUCTION

People with visual impairment (VI) have loss of vision that causes impact on their daily living activities. Synonymous of VI are blindness, low vision, subnormal vision, visual incapacity, although there are peculiarities among them. The autonomic nervous system (ANS) provides the body with dynamic adaptation, moment by moment, according to changes in the internal and/or external body environment. As VI is an adverse condition, it is expected to be associated with changes in systemic autonomic activity, such as heart rate (HR) variability.

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the blindness stress by monitoring the activity of the ANS in the heart in subjects submitted acutely to low vision and also in subjects with chronic visual deficiency.

METHOD

This is a randomized trial experimental study. In this clinical trial, initially, patients will undergo an ophthalmologic medical evaluation, along with monitoring of HR and systolic blood pressure /diastolic blood pressure. Volunteers with normal vision (Group i); and people with VI (Group ii) will be evaluated, all of them inhabitants of Rio Branco City, capital of Acre State, Brazilian Amazon. The intervention will consist of simulating blindness by sealing both eyes of each participant with good eyesight, using a sleep mask and allowing maximum occlusion for 45 minutes, split into 3 periods of 15 minutes each. Still blindfolded, participants will be requested to perform different tasks as walking, serve themselves water and/or cookies, and engaging in playful-pedagogical activity. Identical procedure will be done with the group with VI. The HR will be recorded by the Polar RS800 HR monitor. All findings with a value of P < .05 will be considered statistically significant. As a risk measure the odds ratio will be calculated, adjusted, and not adjusted with their respective 95% confidence intervals. The odds ratio = 1 of lowest risk for the outcome of interest will be considered as the base category for each independent variable.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

This study will be carried out in accordance with the guidelines that regulate human research in Resolution No. 466/12 of the National Health Council. We obtained the approval of the Research Ethics Committee of the ABC Medical School/Faculdade de Medicina do ABC, with CAAE: 73945017.0.0000.0082, and Opinion No. 2,275,101. All individuals who agreed to participate in the study will sign the free and informed consent form (FICF). The FICF is also available in audio and Braille versions. The results will be disseminated through peer-reviewed journal articles and conferences. This study is registered in the Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials under the number RBR-9sm9dp.

Is aerobic exercise training during hemodialysis a reliable intervention for autonomic dysfunction in individuals with chronic kidney disease? A prospective longitudinal clinical trial

Introduction

Physical exercises help in the rehabilitation and recovery of various diseases. Cardiovascular and hypertension problems are the main causes of people being affected by kidney problems, which as a consequence, affects the heart rate variability (HRV) of the individual. Physical activity developed in a well-planned and thorough way can be a component in the treatment of this problem.

Objective

We aimed to evaluate the effects of aerobic exercise intervention during hemodialysis on autonomic heart rate regulation in individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Methods

This was a longitudinal trial conducted in 19 CKD patients. The patients underwent three weekly sessions of aerobic exercise during hemodialysis for 30 mins for 12 weeks (three months).

Results

HRV was analyzed before and after the protocol training. Linear indices of HRV were not different between before and after the protocol training. Nonlinear HRV analysis indicated reduced values of determinism (p=0008, Cohen's d=0.82) and entropy (p=003, Cohen's d=0.84) after the training protocol.

Conclusion

In conclusion, aerobic exercise training during hemodialysis did not improve autonomic control of heart rate in CKD patients.