Patients having haemodialysis: physical activity and associated factors

This paper is a report of a study exploring the physical activity status of Beijing patients having haemodialysis and its associated factors.

Inactivity is widely regarded as a risk factor for the development and progression of chronic diseases. Patients having dialysis could obtain important health benefits by participating in a moderate amount of physical activity.

A cross-sectional survey using convenience sampling was conducted in 2008 at outpatient haemodialysis centres of two tertiary Peking University-affiliated hospitals. Physical activity status and health status were assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire and the medical outcomes study Short Form 36-Item Questionnaire respectively.

The participants were 95 men and 92 women aged from 18 to 86 years (median 59 years). Transport-related walking and household work were the main types of physical activity. Median of metabolic equivalent-minutes/week was 1743.0 (0-13482.0); 26.7% of participants were inactive and 73.3% were minimally active or active. Factors associated with physical activity energy expenditure were age (rho = -0.334 P < 0.001), serum albumin concentration (rho = 0.155 P < 0.05), physical function (rho = 0.469 P < 0.001) and physical component summary (rho = 0.315 P < 0.001) scores on the Short Form 36-Item Questionnaire.

Advice on exercise is needed for patients having haemodialysis, especially for young patients. Individualized physical activity programmes are strongly recommended for patients having haemodialysis, according to their physical capacity.