Association between physical activity and quality of life in haemodialysed and peritoneal dialyzed patients in Hungary

Abstract

Background

Patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) receiving peritoneal dialysis (PD) or haemodyalisis (PD) appear to be less physically active than healthy persons, a situation that could lead to reductions in quality of life. The aim of the present study was to assess and compare physical activity and health-related quality of life in renal patients on HD and PD programs.

Methods

In May 2020, 130 patients (106 HD and 24 PD) were enrolled in a study of chronic dialysis programs. All participants received a questionnaire containing information on demographics, treatment, and co-morbidities. Physical activity was assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) short form, and quality of life was measured using the Kidney Disease Quality of Life-Short Form 12 (KDQOL-SF-12) questionnaire comprising mental (MCS) and physical components (PCS). Non-parametric statistical tests were executed with 0.05 as the level of significance.

Results

The physical activity of patients treated in both HD and PD programs could be considered as low, without a statistically significant difference between the two modalities. For the quality of life measures, we found a significant (p = .004) difference regarding Physical Component Summary (PCS) scores, with higher PCS scores in patients treated in the PD programme compared to HD. Furthermore, higher physical activity levels were associated with better quality of life parameters in both groups.

Conclusion

This study confirms the importance of physical activity among dialysis patients with ESKD, suggesting that greater activity could be associated with a better quality of life.

Keywords:

• Physical activity
• quality of life
• chronic kidney disease

Authors contributions

Conceptualization, methodology, study design: EK, IK, ZJ; Analysis and interpretation of data: EK, GJS; Drafting of the manuscript: EK, GJS; Critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content: EK, IK, ZJ; Statistical expertise: GJS; Study supervision: IK; GJS. All authors have read and approved the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.