Physical function in children/adolescents with chronic kidney disease and the impact of exercise intervention: a protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Introduction: Impaired physical function is relatively common in children/adolescents with chronic kidney disease (CKD), affecting not only patients' daily lives but also the efficiency of later treatment and rehabilitation. Exercise is a recognised intervention to improve physical function and quality of life in adult patients with CKD. However, implementing this strategy in paediatric/adolescent populations remains relatively limited. For exercise training to be widely delivered as part of paediatric public health policy, a better understanding of the physical function and the impact of exercise interventions in children/adolescents with CKD is needed.

Methods and analysis: A systematic review and meta-analysis will be conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines to compare physical function in children/adolescents with CKD with healthy controls and the impact of exercise interventions on their outcomes. The systematic review will search the following databases: PubMed, Embase, Scopus and Web of Science. We will use the Risk Of Bias In Non-Randomised Studies-of Interventions and the second edition of the Cochrane Risk of Bias to assess the quality of the literature. Where feasible, we will conduct random effects meta-analyses where appropriate. If possible, we will conduct subgroup analyses to explore potential sources of heterogeneity.

Ethics and dissemination: Due to the nature of the protocol, ethical approval is not required. We will follow the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines to disseminate the study results through publication and conference presentations.

Prospero registrationnumber: CRD42023416208.

Keywords: Nephrology; Rehabilitation.

Figure 1

Flow chart of literature screening.