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Multicenter Study
. 2024 Apr;37(3):695-705.
doi: 10.1007/s40620-024-01896-w. Epub 2024 Mar 6.

Physical activity and exercise programs for kidney patients: an Italian survey of nephrology centres

Francesca Bulighin  1   2 , Filippo Aucella  3 , Vincenzo Bellizzi  4 , Adamasco Cupisti  5 , Teresa Faga  6 , Giovanni Gambaro  7 , Giuseppe Regolisti  8 , Alda Storari  9 , Alessandro Capitanini  10 , Yuri Battaglia  11   12 ; Working Group of Physical Exercise of Italian Society of Nephrology
Collaborators, Affiliations
Multicenter Study

Physical activity and exercise programs for kidney patients: an Italian survey of nephrology centres

Francesca Bulighin et al. J Nephrol. 2024 Apr.

Abstract

Background: Data on exercise activities in place, and on the interest for developing them in Nephrology Services in Italy is limited. To address this gap, we carried out this cross-sectional study to investigate the status of physical activity and exercise programs available in Italian Nephrology Centres. Additionally, research priorities on this topic were examined.

Methods: We developed a 14-item electronic survey, which consisted of multiple-choice questions covering exercise training programs, physical assessment, barriers to exercise practice and to exercise programs, exercise and physical activity counselling practices, perceived exercise benefits, literature evidence, and research priorities. Data on the characteristics of the centres were also collected.

Results: Sixty-two responses from Italian nephrology centres were collected. Ninety-three percent of the respondents were aware of the scientific evidence supporting the benefits of regular exercise programs for chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. Additionally, in 75% of centres the nephrologists believed that physical activity counselling should be performed by the nephrologists. However, only 26% of centres provided exercise programs, mainly for dialysis patients, and 63% never or infrequently assessed physical activity in the context of patient management. Eighty-nine percent of centres reported barriers to implementing exercise programs, including lack of funding, institutional disinterest, patient refusal, and negative attitudes of the healthcare personnel. Forty-six research priorities related to exercise in CKD patients were suggested, with the majority focusing on impact of exercise programs and physical activity on cardiovascular, nutritional, and psychosocial outcomes.

Conclusion: This survey highlights the limited availability of exercise programs and physical activity evaluation in clinical practice in Italian Nephrology Centres. However, the survey also revealed a strong interest for counselling CKD patients on physical activity and implementing exercise prescriptions and interventions.

Keywords: Barriers; Exercise training; Haemodialysis; Inactivity; Kidney transplant; Research.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Characteristics of the participating centres
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Barriers to implementation of renal exercise programs
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Counselling practice of centres on physical activity
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Counselling practice of centres on exercise programs
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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