Czech exercise program for dialysis and transplant patients, 10 years experience

Abstract

In Czechia an exercise program was created in 1993 for the dialysis and transplanted patients to counteract the high cardiovascular mortality (>60%), the polymorbidity of the older patients, the reduced social adaptation and decreasing employment status, and to save costs of social compensation and assisted care. The goals of the rehabilitation management are a cooperation of the groups caring for CKD patients: nephrologists, nurses, dieticians, exercise physiologists, care providers, government. The aim is to improve quality of life by maximizing characteristics and behaviour of the patients with the above-mentioned methods of therapy, social service and education. Additionally to the out-patient and in-centre training groups in 1995 a Czech Sport Club of Dialysis and Transplant Patients was founded, and some members were able to participate in national and international games of dialysis (EDTSF) or transplanted (WTGF) people.