In a study led by the Technical University of Munich (TUM), researchers have found that dialysis patients who engage in light exercise during their treatments are physically fitter and are admitted to the hospital less frequently than those who do not exercise.
The findings suggest that exercise programs should be a standard offering for dialysis patients.
Study Overview and Methodology
Around 80,000 people in Germany require dialysis several times per week due to severely impaired kidney function.
Martin Halle, Professor of Preventive and Rehabilitative Sports Medicine at TUM, noted that the limitations of their disease and the time-consuming nature of dialysis often lead these patients to engage in little physical exercise.
The study, published in NEJM Evidence, involved approximately 1,000 patients from 21 dialysis centers in Germany.
Over a 12-month period, half of the study participants were assigned to participate in exercise sessions at least once and ideally three times per week during their dialysis treatment.
The exercise program was personalized for each patient, involving 30 minutes of endurance training and 30 minutes of exercises with weights, resistance bands, and balls. The other half of the patients only received medical monitoring.
Significant Health Improvements Observed
The study results showed significant health improvements among the active participants.
After a year, these participants were able to complete more repetitions in a one-minute sit-to-stand test and walk further in six minutes than at the start of the study.
Conversely, the control group’s performance in these areas declined over the study period.
Halle explained that these improvements reflect enhanced quality of life and autonomy for the patients.
In addition, participants who exercised regularly spent an average of two days in hospital during the study, compared to an average of five days for the control group.
The Future of Dialysis Treatment
Halle believes the study results argue for the adoption of the exercise program, as it improved patients’ health and reduced healthcare costs with relatively low investment.
The estimated cost for personalized training is around €25 per session per person.
The final report has been submitted to the Federal Joint Committee, which financed the study through its Innovation Fund.
This committee will decide whether this training should be offered to all dialysis patients with statutory health insurance in Germany.
Halle expressed hope that their exercise program will become standard, emphasizing the need for a holistic approach to health, especially for elderly and infirm patients.
If you care about kidney health, please read studies about how to protect your kidneys from diabetes, and drinking coffee could help reduce the risk of kidney injury.
For more information about kidney health, please see recent studies about foods that may prevent the recurrence of kidney stones, and eating nuts linked to lower risk of chronic kidney disease and death.
The study was published in NEJM Evidence.
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