Exercise training in chronic kidney disease patients

Area of Science:

• Nephrology
• Exercise Physiology
• Public Health

Background:

• Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects 1.7 million Australians, often progressing to end-stage kidney disease (ESKD).
• CKD patients face high cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, with limited therapies to slow progression or reduce mortality.
• Exercise training benefits are established in various conditions, including ESKD, but its effects in earlier CKD stages are under-researched.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review existing clinical trials on exercise training in patients with CKD.
• To discuss the findings, safety considerations, and identify future research directions.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature search identified ten clinical trials investigating exercise training in CKD patients.
• Review focused on studies examining exercise's impact on physiological and clinical outcomes.

Main Results:

• Exercise training appears to increase exercise capacity, enhance muscle strength and function.
• Studies suggest exercise can decrease blood pressure and improve inflammation and oxidative stress biomarkers.
• The majority of trials were small, non-randomized, and non-controlled.

Conclusions:

• Exercise training demonstrates potential benefits for CKD patients, including improved physical function and reduced inflammation.
• The impact of exercise on kidney function, cardiovascular disease progression, and quality of life remains undetermined.
• Further high-quality, randomized controlled trials are essential to establish evidence-based exercise guidelines for individuals with CKD.