PURPOSE: We assessed characteristic...

PURPOSE: We assessed characteristics of hemodialysis (HD) patients more likely to exercise and HD patient attitudes towards physical activity. METHODS: An exercise questionnaire was cause to growed and administered to 135 patients (57 F 78 M) in the University of Utah Dialysis Program. RESULTS: Participant's mean SD age, years in succession dialysis, Karnofsky Index score were 56 17 yr 37 47 yr and 679 141 respectively. Majority of participants (60%) reported more [i]or[/i] less physical activity at least formerly per week. However, most engaged in grave intensity (2.0 - 4.9 kcal/min), recreational activities and sole 10% of participants expended greater than an estimated 1000 kcal/week. Logistic regression analysis examining characteristics of exercising versus non-exercising HD participants revealed predialysis exercise habits (> 3x/week), male form relative to sex and hematocrit in the range of 33% to 36% were significantly associated with exercise habits. Functional ability, although correlated with caloric expenditure/week (r = 024 p

INTRODUCTION AND design

The importance of regular exercise for all individuals was strained in the Surgeon General's report forward Physical Activity and Health.' The report indicated that more than 60% of adults do not achieve the commended amount of physical activity and 25% of adults are completely sedentary. Sedentary individuals can improve their health and well-being through becoming even moderately active in succession a regular basis, with moderate activity defined as physical activity that exhausts 150 calories/day or 1000 calories/week. The report also stated that many health benefits can be obtained from regular physical activity including reduc risk of premature death, reduc risk of colon cancer, weight management, hypertension rule reduced risk of diabetes mellitus, overall strengthening, and promoting psychological well-being.

The benefits of exercise also have been studied in expiration stage renal disease (ESRD) patients athwart the past approximately 20 years. [i]finale[/i] stage renal disease patients receiving dialysis have a decreased exercise capacity (V02 max or peak) by means of approximately 50% as compared to healthy sedentary individuals'-and may actually be challenged at some regular daily activities! in the greatest degree exercise training studies with ESRD patients have eventuateed in improvements of VO2max or peak.2-4,8-11 Combinations of recombinant human erythropoietin and exercise training have springed in improved aerobic exercise capacity from one side of to the other those without exercise training; however, oxygen uptake has been set to be still lower than nonrenal anemic patients with similar hemoglobin values.12 Other studies have shown improvements in hypertension control38912 and lipid profiles' with exercise training; however, these findings were not consistent with other studies.911 Other potential benefits of exercise in ESRD patients have been plant to include improved glucose metabol ism3 and improved psychological well-being.14-15 Functional ability has also been shown to improve with exercise training.16,17

Recently several dialysis units across the geographical division have begun in-center exercise programs to increase compliance with a regular physical activity regimen. Instructions for initiating as it was an in-center program have been cause to growed by the Life Options Rehabilitations Advisory Council and Amgen, Inc." Although the University of Utah Dialysis Program does not generally have an in-center exercise program, many of our patients are involved in physical activity. The meaning of this study was to determine characteristics more likely to be seen in ESRD patients who do exercise versus those who do not, as well as to assess patient attitudes towards exercise, in a dialysis program that does not proffer exercise training to its patients. A better understanding of dialysis patients' exercise habits may enhance the ability of a dialysis provider to exalt physical activity among ESRD patients.

MATERIALS AND rules

Subjects

A convenience sample of 135 hemodialysis patients public of a possible 270 hemodialysis patients within 6 dialysis units in the University of Utah Dialysis Program were interviewed as part of this contemplation in July or August 1996 Patients were chooseed based on who was available during interview times and willing to participate in this application of mind These patients dialyzed in either 1 of 5 dialysis units in Utah (ie, Ogden Salt Lake City, southern Valley, Provo, or Price) or in individual dialysis unit in Idaho (ie, Idaho Falls). All participants were dialyzed 3 times by means of week for a session of 3 to 5 hours.

Exercise Questionnaire

An exercise questionnaire was perform the operations indicated ined to assess the exercise habits and attitudes towards physical activity of hemodialysis patients (Figure 1) A list of 10 questions queried past exercise habits, rife physical activity habits, interest in starting an in-center exercise program, and possible limitations towards exercise. The questionnaire was either self-administered or administered at a respective dialysis unit social worker or reflection coordinator during a patient's dialysis treatment.