Abstract
Background: Low physical fitness has been associated with deterioration in overall health outcomes, resulting in increased hospitalization, morbidity, and mortality in patients treated with maintenance dialysis. This study aimed to compare self-reported physical fitness between patients treated with maintenance dialysis and those without chronic kidney disease (CKD).
Methods: In this cross-sectional study, patients treated with maintenance dialysis (n=674) and individuals without CKD (control, n=518) self-reported physical fitness by responding to the International Fitness Scale (IFIS). Binary Logistic Regressions were adjusted for sex, age, schooling, diabetes, smoking, physical activity, sedentary behavior, and body max index.
Results: Patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis are more likely to self-report lower general PF (OR=2.03; 95% CI: 1.35 to 3.05; p = 0.001), cardiorespiratory fitness (OR=3.18; 95% CI: 2.27 to 4.46; p<0.001), strength (OR=2.51; 95 % CI: 1.71 to 3.68; p<0.001) and agility (OR=1.83; 95% CI: 1.26 to 2.64; p=0.001) than the control group. Patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis who self-reported higher levels of physical activity were 5.64 times more likely to self-report high overall physical fitness (OR=5.64, 95% CI: 1.93 to 16.45, p<0.002).
Conclusion: Patients treated with maintenance dialysis were twice as likely to self-report lower general physical fitness compared to individuals without kidney disease. Considering the consequences related to these factors, strategies to improve it, like initiatives related to the practice of physical exercises with this population, including strategically during hemodialysis, may be interesting.