Background

Psychological problems such as depression and anxiety are common in hemodialysis patients. In several studies, exercise programs were effective in relieving depression or anxiety in these patients, although not all agree.

Purpose

In this study, we evaluated the effects of an exercise program on exercise capacity, anxiety, depression and quality of life in maintenance hemodialysis patients.

Methods

Twenty hemodialysis patients were enrolled in the study. Six patients were later excluded; two due to anemia, one due to nausea with vomiting during exercise, one due to a neurologic problem, and the other two due to noncompliance. Thus, fourteen patients, 3 men and 11 women, aged 42 +/- 10 years, completed the study. The exercise program composed of bicycle ergometer, treadmill or upper limb ergometer, 60 min per session, 3 times per week, for 12 weeks. At the beginning and the end of the exercise program, the exercise capacity was determined by measuring the maximal oxygen consumption and exercise duration. In addition, psychological tests for the assessment of depression, anxiety and quality of life were performed.

Results

Maximal oxygen consumption was increased from 26.3 +/- 4.6 mL/kg/min to 29.8 +/- 4.9 mL/kg/min (p = 0.013). Exercise duration was 483 +/- 138 s at the start. At the end of the exercise program it was increased to 607 +/-119s (p = 0.002). The score of anxiety was significantly improved from 47.9 +/- 5.9 to 42.8 +/- 6.3 after exercise (p = 0.004). Though it did not reach statistical significance there was a trend of improvement in depression (from 44.8 +/- 8.4 to 39.7 +/- 6.4, p = 0.073). The score of quality of life also showed a significant improvement (from 124.5 +/- 16.5 to 133.6 +/- 19.3, p = 0.031).

Conclusion

The results of this study indicate that an appropriate application of exercise program would improve the psychological status in long-term maintenance hemodialysis patients.