The cardiovascular determinants of physical function in patients with end-stage kidney disease on haemodialysis

Patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) are often sedentary and decreased functional capacity associates with mortality. The relationship between cardiovascular disease (CVD) and physical function has not been fully explored. Understanding the relationships between prognostically relevant measures of CVD and physical function may offer insight into how exercise interventions might target specific elements of CVD. 130 patients on haemodialysis (mean age 57 ± 15 years, 73% male, dialysis vintage 1.3 years (0.5, 3.4), recruited to the CYCLE-HD trial (ISRCTN11299707), underwent cardiovascular phenotyping with cardiac MRI (left ventricular (LV) structure and function, pulse wave velocity (PWV) and native T1 mapping) and cardiac biomarker assessment. Participants completed the incremental shuttle walk test (ISWT) and sit-to-stand 60 (STS60) as field-tests of physical function. Linear regression models identified CV determinants of physical function measures, adjusted for age, gender, BMI, diabetes, ethnicity and systolic blood pressure. Troponin I, PWV and global native T1 were univariate determinants of ISWT and STS60 performance. NT pro-BNP was a univariate determinant of ISWT performance. In multivariate models, NT pro-BNP and global native T1 were independent determinants of ISWT and STS60 performance. LV ejection fraction was an independent determinant of ISWT distance. However, age and diabetes had the strongest relationships with physical function. In conclusion, NT pro-BNP, global native T1 and LV ejection fraction were independent CV determinants of physical function. However, age and diabetes had the greatest independent influence. Targeting diabetic care may ameliorate deconditioning in these patients and a multimorbidity approach should be considered when developing exercise interventions.