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Updated: Apr 23, 2026
Assessment of Vascular Function in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease
Published on: June 16, 2014
Impact of chronic kidney disease and anemia on physical function in patients with chronic heart failure
Masakazu Saitoh1, Haruki Itoh2, Nobuo Morotomi3
1Department of Physiotherapy, Sakakibara Heart Institute, Tokyo, Japan.
Insights
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and anemia significantly impair physical function in heart failure patients. Their combined presence leads to a greater decline in physical performance than either condition alone.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Cardiology
- Geriatrics
Background:
- Chronic heart failure (HF) patients often experience comorbidities.
- Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and anemia are common in HF and may impact physical function.
- The combined impact of CKD and anemia on physical function in HF is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To confirm the effects of CKD and anemia on physical function in HF patients.
- To investigate the additive effect of combined CKD and anemia on physical function.
Main Methods:
- 102 chronic HF patients were enrolled.
- CKD defined as eGFR <60 ml/min/1.73 m²; anemia defined by hemoglobin levels.
- Physical function assessed using the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB).
Main Results:
- Patients with both CKD and anemia had significantly lower SPPB scores.
- The reduction in physical function was more pronounced in patients with both conditions compared to those with one or neither.
- p < 0.05 indicated statistical significance.
Conclusions:
- CKD and anemia are independently associated with reduced physical function in HF patients.
- The combination of CKD and anemia has an additive negative effect on physical function.
- These findings highlight the importance of managing CKD and anemia in HF patients to improve physical performance.
Objective:
The aim of this study was to confirm the effects of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and anemia on physical function and to clarify whether the interaction between CKD and anemia has an additive effect.
Design:
Eligible subjects were chronic heart failure (HF) patients who were discharged between March 2007 and August 2009. A total of 102 chronic HF patients (33% females; mean age: 68 ± 14 years) were enrolled in the present study. CKD was defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate of <60 ml/min/1.73 m(2), and anemia was defined as a hemoglobin level of <12 g/dl in males and of <11 g/dl in females. The Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) was used to assess physical function.
Results:
The adjusted mean SPPB score was lower in patients with both CKD and anemia than in those with neither of the diseases or with either disease alone (p < 0.05).
Conclusion:
This study found that CKD and anemia are independently associated with reduced physical function.
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