Exercise and Cognitive Function Chronic Kidney Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Efficacy and Harms

Abstract

Background: People living with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are at higher risk of cognitive impairment. Exercise may improve cognitive function. This systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was completed to determine the efficacy and harms of exercise in improving cognitive function in people living with CKD. Methods: A systematic literature review identified RCTs of people with any stage of CKD, with an intervention that exercised large-muscle groups, and with a validated outcome measure of cognitive function. First, harms were analyzed. Then a random-effects meta-analysis was completed with subsequent planned subgroup analyses to investigate heterogeneity between CKD stages and treatments, between different exercise types, durations and intensities, and between different outcome methodologies. Finally, quality of evidence was rated. Results: Nineteen trials randomized 1160 participants. Harms were reported on 94 occasions in intervention groups vs. 83 in control. The primary analysis found that exercise had a small but statistically significant effect on cognition in CKD (effect size (ES) = 0.22; 95% confidence intervals (CI95) = 0.00, 0.44; P = 0.05). However, the quality of evidence was rated as low. Subgroup analyses found that type of exercise moderated the effect on cognition (χ 2 = 7.62; P = 0.02), with positive effects only observed following aerobic exercise (ES = 0.57; CI95 = 0.21, 0.93; P = 0.002). Conclusions: Across the spectrum of CKD, exercise had a small but positive and clinically meaningful effect on cognitive function and did not appear to be harmful. Aerobic exercise was particularly beneficial. However, results must be interpreted cautiously due to the low quality of evidence. Nevertheless, care teams may choose to recommend aerobic exercise interventions to prevent cognitive decline. Researchers should design unbiased studies to clarify what intensity and duration of exercise is required to maximize efficiency of such exercise interventions.