Changes in Physical Activity Among Spanish Kidney Transplant Recipients: A 12-Month Longitudinal Study

Physical activity is crucial for improving cardiovascular risk and overall health in kidney transplant recipients. However, changes in physical activity before and after transplantation remain underexplored.

To assess energy expenditure and physical activity before and after kidney transplantation over 1 year, analysing their relationship with cardiovascular risk factors.

Descriptive, longitudinal, prospective study.

A total of 112 individuals who had received a kidney transplant (aged ≥ 18 years) at a single transplant centre.

Sociodemographic and clinical data were extracted from medical records. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire was administered at baseline and at 3, 6 and 12 months after transplantation to evaluate physical activity (as metabolic equivalent minutes per week). Laboratory parameters were also collected.

Descriptive statistics summarised participant characteristics. Inferential analyses (chi-square, t-tests, ANOVA, Mann-Whitney U, Kruskal-Wallis) examined associations between physical activity and clinical variables (significance p < 0.05).

Participants had a median age of 58 years; 70.5% were men. Overall physical activity declined at 3 months, rebounded at 6, and decreased again at 12 months, remaining below the levels observed before transplantation. Men, participants not requiring dialysis before transplantation, individuals with overweight, and individuals with a history of cerebrovascular disease exhibited higher physical activity throughout follow-up. Physical activity correlated with certain laboratory parameters, suggesting that better clinical status may foster greater physical activity engagement.

Tailored physical activity targeting comorbidities and nutritional status are recommended to improve long-term outcomes in kidney transplant recipients, particularly among women, older adults, and those with multiple comorbidities.