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Assessment of Vascular Function in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease
Published on: June 16, 2014
Physical Function Decline Among Adults With Moderate-to-Severe CKD.
Sarah J Schrauben1,2, Rebecca Brown1, Michael G Shlipak3,4,5
1Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Kidney International Reports
|June 19, 2026
Summary
Physical function declines significantly in chronic kidney disease (CKD). Kidney dysfunction accelerates this decline, impacting independence and increasing mortality risk in CKD patients.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Geriatrics
- Physical Medicine
Background:
- Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with significant physical function impairments, leading to disability and mortality.
- The progression of functional decline across different stages of CKD is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine baseline physical function and its longitudinal changes in a large prospective cohort of patients with CKD.
- To investigate the association between kidney function (eGFR) and the rate of physical function decline.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort (CRIC) Study, measuring grip strength and the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) including gait speed, chair stands, and balance.
- Employed linear mixed-effects models to analyze annual changes in physical function, adjusting for multiple covariates.
- Compared baseline function to age-matched population norms and assessed impairment using established thresholds.
Main Results:
- A significant proportion of CKD participants exhibited baseline impairments: 33% in gait speed, 70% in chair stands, 43% in grip strength, and 50% in SPPB.
- Physical function was notably worse (up to 75%) compared to normative values.
- Lower estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and older age were linked to faster declines in physical function over a median follow-up of 8.5 years.
Conclusions:
- Physical function impairment is prevalent and progressive in moderate-to-severe CKD.
- Kidney dysfunction significantly contributes to functional decline, independent of chronological aging.
- Objective physical function measures are crucial for CKD management, guiding interventions to maintain patient independence.
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