The effect of a 10-week exercise program on physical function and quality of life in individuals with chronic kidney disease

Abstract

Background: Individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have low levels of physical function and activity that decline over time. We hypothesize that attendance at a 10- week education and exercise class targeted to individuals with CKD improves physical function and HRQOL over 1 year as compared to individuals with CKD who do not attend such a program. Methods: This health services research evaluation uses a retrospective quasiexperimental pretest-posttest nonequivalent control group design to evaluate the effect of participation in an established 10-week exercise class program on physical function and HRQOL over 1 year. We will compare 60 individuals with CKD in Manitoba who attended this program with 120 individuals with CKD in two distinct comparison groups who did not. Outcomes: Primary outcome: physical function measured by Short Physical Performance Battery Score. Secondary outcomes include HRQOL; hospitalization rate; exercise capacity and proportion of deaths in the year following baseline assessment. Data Analysis: Propensity score matching on key intervening variables will be utilized to adjust for baseline differences in groups. We will compare differences in outcomes within and between exposed and comparison groups at baseline and 1-year. Expected Outcomes: Individuals that attend the 10-week program will have improved physical function as compared with those who do not attend. Project Significance: Manitoba has the highest rates of renal disease in Canada. The potential for a simple exercise program to improve physical function, HRQOL and morbidity in individuals with CKD is highly relevant to individual Manitobans, their caregivers, and the health care system.