Longitudinal Analysis of Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Active and Sedentary Kidney Transplant Recipients

Area of Science:

• Nephrology
• Cardiology
• Exercise Physiology

Background:

• Physical activity benefits cardiovascular health in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs).
• Long-term effects of exercise on KTRs' graft function and cardiovascular risk factors remain under-investigated.
• This study compares active KTRs (AKTRs) with sedentary KTRs (SKTRs) over three years.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the long-term effects of regular physical activity on graft function in KTRs.
• To assess the impact of exercise on cardiovascular risk factors in KTRs over a three-year period.
• To compare outcomes between AKTRs and SKTRs.

Main Methods:

• A three-year observational study involving 54 KTRs with stable renal function.
• Participants were categorized as AKTRs (>150 min/week physical activity) or SKTRs (<150 min/week).
• Yearly assessments included blood counts, renal function, lipids, blood pressure, and anthropometrics, analyzed using ANCOVA.

Main Results:

• AKTRs showed decreased BMI, stable graft function (serum creatinine, eGFR), reduced proteinuria, glucose, uric acid, and triglycerides over three years.
• SKTRs exhibited increased BMI, declining graft function, and elevated triglycerides.
• Baseline BMI was higher in SKTRs; changes in BMI, graft function markers, and triglycerides differed significantly between groups (p<0.05).

Conclusions:

• Regular weekly exercise training in KTRs may mitigate increased cardiovascular risks.
• Exercise appears to prevent graft function decline in kidney transplant recipients.
• Physical activity is crucial for long-term health and graft survival in KTRs.