Assessing physical activity and function in patients with chronic kidney disease: a narrative review

Clinical Kidney Journal, vol. 14, pp. 768–779

Abstract

Physical activity potentially improves health outcomes in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and recipients of kidney transplants. Although studies have demonstrated the beneficial effects of physical activity and exercise for primary and secondary prevention of non-communicable diseases, evidence for kidney patients is limited. To enlarge this evidence, valid assessment of physical activity and exercise is essential. Furthermore, CKD is associated with a decline in physical function, which may result in severe disabilities and dependencies. Assessment of physical function may help clinicians to monitor disease progression and frailty in patients receiving dialysis. The attention on physical function and physical activity has grown and new devices have been developed and (commercially) launched on the market. Therefore the aims of this review were to summarize different measures of physical function and physical activity, provide an update on measurement instruments and discuss options for easy-to-use measurement instruments for day-to-day use by CKD patients. This review demonstrates that large variation exists in the different strategies to assess physical function and activity in clinical practice and research settings. To choose the best available method, accuracy, content, preferable outcome, necessary expertise, resources and time are important issues to consider.

Authors 5

1. Esmée A. Bakker corresponding

   Radboud University Nijmegen · Radboud University Medical Center · Radboud Institute for Health Sciences · Liverpool John Moores University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Physiology, Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

   Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK

2. Carmine Zoccali

   Istituto di Fisiologia Clinica · National Research Council

   Affiliation as printed

   Clinical Epidemiology and Physiopathology of Renal Diseases and Hypertension of Reggio Calabria, National Council of Research, Institute of Clinical Physiology, Reggio Calabria, Italy

3. Friedo Wilhelm Dekker Aachen Centre for Innovation in Medical Education Department of Clinical Epidemiology

   Leiden University · Leiden University Medical Center

   Affiliation as printed

   Centre for Innovation in Medical Education and Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands

4. Thijs M.H. Eijsvogels

   Radboud University Nijmegen · Radboud University Medical Center · Radboud Institute for Health Sciences

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Physiology, Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

5. Kitty J. Jager

   Amsterdam University Medical Centers · University of Amsterdam

   Affiliation as printed

   ERA-EDTA Registry, Department of Medical Informatics, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands