Abstract

1. INTRODUCTION

End‐stage renal disease (ESRD), a life‐threatening illness, is the advanced stage of chronic kidney disease (CKD) resulting from various causes. In China, the incidence of ESRD is increasing year by year (Zheng et al., 2010). Haemodialysis (HD) is the major renal replacement therapy (RRT) for most people with ESRD. These people have significantly increased morbidity and mortality, with cardiovascular disease as the leading cause of death (Weiner et al., 2011). Frailty, a biologic syndrome, the state of increased vulnerability to physical stressors as a result of cumulative declines across multiple physiological systems, is common in HD people (Kim, Kalantar‐Zadeh, & Kopple, 2013). The most prevalent and potential change components of frailty in HD population are physical inactivity, together with “enforced” sedentary time during HD, contribute to poor physical performance, lower quality of life and increase healthcare resources (Matsuzawa & Roshanravan, 2018).

Exercise intervention has confirmed a potential benefit to target several of these issues. However, physical activity decreases with progression of kidney disease and reaches a nadir in HD people, particularly in the older population (Johansen et al., 2000). The Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative (KDOQI) guidelines recommend that exercises should be one of the cornerstones of therapy for adults receiving dialysis (K/DOQI Workgroup, 2005). Intradialytic resistance exercises, namely various exercise programmes like upper extremity strengthening with free‐weight dumbbells implemented during dialysis, were considered as a strategy to prevent or even reverse people’ muscle wasting, are an important part of comprehensive management for HD people (Parker, 2016) and have been confirmed beneficial in the older population and some chronic diseases such as heart failure (Peterson, Rhea, Sen, & Gordon, 2010; Santos et al., 2018). The aim of this review was to provide an up‐to‐date synthesis of randomized controlled trials (RCT) comparing the effects of intradialytic resistance exercises versus usual care on physical performance, nutrient intake and quality of life in HD people.

2. METHODS

3. RESULTS

3.1. Literature search results

As shown in Figure ​Figure1,1, according to the predefined search strategy, a total of 972 studies were initially obtained from databases and there were four additional records identified through other sources. After removing 381 duplicates, 595 studies remained. After browsing titles and abstracts, 542 studies were eliminated as irrelevant. Fifty‐three of full‐text articles assessed for eligibility and 39 were excluded (non‐resistance exercises or exercise not during dialysis: 7; only abstract: 7; not‐RCT: 9; no relevant outcomes: 12; data incomplete: 2; non‐English: 1; and repetitive study: 1), and 14 of studies were finally included in quantitative synthesis (Cheema et al., 2007; Chen et al., 2010; Kirkman et al., 2014; Kopple et al., 2007; Liu, 2017; Martin‐Alemañy et al., 2016; Olvera‐Soto, Valdez‐Ortiz, López Alvarenga, & Espinosa‐Cuevas, 2015; Pellizzaro, Thomé, & Veronese, 2013; Rosa et al., 2018; Seguraortí, Kouidi, & Lisón, 2009; Song & Sohng, 2012; Sun, 2016; Thompson et al., 2016; Wu et al., 2014).

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Figure 1

Flow diagram of study selection

3.5. Pooled results

3.5.1. Effects on physical performance (6MWT, STS 30, HG)

There was a significant decrease in 6MWT with intradialytic resistance exercises versus control in HD people (8 studies; Cheema et al., 2007, Kirkman et al., 2014, Pellizzaro et al., 2013, Rosa et al., 2018, Seguraortí et al., 2009, Sun, 2016, Thompson et al., 2016, Wu et al., 2014), 299 people, SMD = 0.517; 95% CI: 0.283, 0.751; p = 0.000), without between‐study heterogeneity (χ ² = 8.61; I ² = 18.7%; p = 0.282; Figure ​Figure22).

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Figure 2

Forest plots of overall effect size of 6MWT, STS 30 and HG between the exercise and control groups

There was a significant decrease in STS 30 with intradialytic resistance exercises versus control in HD people (5 studies: Kirkman et al., 2014; Seguraortí et al., 2009; Song & Sohng, 2012; Thompson et al., 2016; Wu et al., 2014), 164 people, SMD = 0.422; 95% CI: 108, 0.736; p = 0.008), without between‐study heterogeneity (χ ² = 2.10; I ² = 0.0%; p = 0.717; Figure ​Figure22).

There was a significant increase in HG with intradialytic resistance exercises versus control in HD people (6 studies: Martin‐Alemañy et al., 2016; Olvera‐Soto et al., 2015; Rosa et al., 2018; Song & Sohng, 2012; Sun, 2016; Wu et al., 2014), 300 people, SMD = 0.353; 95% CI: 0.123, 0.583; p = 0.003), with between‐study no heterogeneity (χ ² = 8.56; I ² = 41.6%; p = 0.128; Figure ​Figure22).

3.5.2. Effects on nutrient intake

There were five studies (Abreu et al., 2017; Cheema et al., 2007; Dong et al., 2011; Kopple et al., 2007; Olvera‐Soto et al., 2015) reporting DPI, and because of no significant between‐study heterogeneity (χ ² = 5.18; p = 0.269; I ² = 22.8%), a fix‐effect model was used. The pooled analysis was 0.138 (95% CI: −0.139, 0.415; p = 0.328), which indicated that there was no significant change in exercise group (Figure ​(Figure33).

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Figure 3

Forest plots of overall effect size of DPI and DEI between the exercise and control groups

There were five studies (Abreu et al., 2017; Cheema et al., 2007; Dong et al., 2011; Kopple et al., 2007; Olvera‐Soto et al., 2015) reporting DEI, and because of no significant between‐study heterogeneity (χ ² = 3.04; p = 0.550; I ² = 0.0%), a fix‐effect model was used. The pooled analysis was 0.108 (95% CI: −0.167, 0.384; p = 0.441), which indicated that there was no significant change in exercise group (Figure ​(Figure33).

3.5.3. Effects on quality of life

Seven studies (Cheema et al., 2007; Chen et al., 2010; Liu, 2017; Rosa et al., 2018; Seguraortí et al., 2009; Song & Sohng, 2012; Thompson et al., 2016) assessed the change in the PCS, with a total of 297 people, 155 people in the exercise group while 142 people in the control group. The heterogeneity was not significant (χ ² = 5.27; I ² = 0.0%; p = 0.509). The pooled analysis showed that there was no significant change in the PCS after resistance exercises (SMD = 0.226; 95% CI: −0.005, 0.457; p = 0.055; Figure ​Figure44).

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Figure 4

Forest plots of overall effect size of PCS and MCS between the exercise and control groups

Seven studies (Cheema et al., 2007; Chen et al., 2010; Liu, 2017; Rosa et al., 2018; Seguraortí et al., 2009; Song & Sohng, 2012; Thompson et al., 2016) assessed the change in the MCS, with a total of 297 people. The heterogeneity was not significant (χ ² = 11.21; I ² = 46.5%; p = 0.082). The pooled analysis showed that there was no significant change in the MCS after resistance exercises (SMD = 0.129; 95% CI: −0.102, 0.361; p = 0.082; Figure ​Figure44).

4. DISCUSSION

To date, the precise optimal dose of resistance exercises during HD has not been established yet. Various international health organization and the KDOQI recommended that regular exercise training should be a component for HD people to reduce the risk of cardiovascular complications and the exercise programmes should be designed and delivered by appropriately trained and qualified personnel and take into account individual patient's needed (K/DOQI Workgroup, 2005; Smart et al., 2013). However, there was still insufficient evidence regarding the effects of intradialytic resistance exercises for people undergoing HD. Results of the present study indicated that physical performance is improved by resistance exercises regardless of exercise frequency, intensity or time. Of course, the people must adhere to the exercise intervention to preserve this dominant effect. This finding is in agreement with the recent study in older adults (Liu et al., 2017). Type of exercises that improved physical performance was those that used large muscle group continuously including ankle weights, knee extension and leg curl. It could be helpful for nephrologists, nurse staffs and HD people to understand the effects of intradialytic resistance exercises comprehensively.

Frailty was a common complication in people with ESRD undergoing HD (Brown & Johansson, 2010; Johansen, Chertow, Jin, & Kutner, 2007). A previous study found there were 67.7% of people undergoing HD existed frailty, which was strongly associates with all‐cause morbidity, mortality and lower quality of life (Johansen et al., 2007). Physical performance, a “gold standard” to reflect frailty status (Fried et al., 2001), is defined as the capability to conduct normal daily physical activities, which is often measured by such activities as the time required to climb a defined time of sit‐to‐stand stairs (like STS30) or the distance walked (like 6MWT) (Storer, Casaburi, Sawelson, & Kopple, 2005). It is reported that people on HD with physical performance levels 20%~50% lower than age‐ and sex‐matched sedentary population controls (O'Hare, Tawney, Bacchetti, & Johansen, 2003). In our pooled analysis, intradialytic resistance exercises appeared to have a beneficial influence on physical performance. The possible underlying mechanism of resistance exercises to it may be its ability to improve oxidative metabolism (Stray‐Gundersen, Howden, Parsons, & Thompson, 2016), muscle mitochondrial biogenesis (Vaidyanatha & Balakrishnan, 2010) and reduced systemic inflammation (Castaneda et al., 2004; Viana et al., 2014). Positive effects could be observed in as soon as 12 weeks of regular exercises. In a recent multicenter RCT, Manfredini revealed that an exercise programme improved functional status compared with usual care in people with ESRD (Manfredini et al., 2017).

Remarkably, prevention and treatment of frailty require adequate intake of nutrients. Most guidelines recommended similar amounts of DPI for HD people, ranging from 1.0–1.3 g kg⁻¹ day⁻¹ with at least 50% of high biologic value (Dukkipati, Noori, Feroze, & Kopple, 2010). The KDOQI recommended for energy intake in HD people is 35 kcal kg⁻¹ day⁻¹ for people <60 years and 30 kcal kg⁻¹ day⁻¹ among people <65 years (Kopple, 2001). However, most people undergoing HD will not be able to ingest these quantities of protein and energy and their nutrient intake may need to be augmented to meet these goals. Some scholar reported that it may be that an increase in protein and energy intake in HD people which is offset by exercises (Castaneda et al., 2004). However, the present study showed no significant improvement in DPI and DEI following intradialytic resistance exercises. Fortunately, Martin (Martin‐Alemany et al., 2016) considered that resistance exercises and oral nutritional supplementation during HD may be an effective strategy to increase nutrient intake in HD people.

The lack of significant difference for QoL in our analysis should also be interpreted with caution. The QoL in HD people is universally low and is influenced by factors like age, sex, functional status, work status and some others (Fukuhara et al., 2003). Although our meta‐analysis showed that intradialytic resistance exercises have a predominant benefit in physical performance, there is no difference in the SF‐36 score for PCS and MCS between the exercise and control groups. A possible explanation for this might be due to the proportion of sex, adult and other possible underlying factors.

The adverse events of intradialytic resistance exercises should not be ignored, as HD people have a greater risk of cardiovascular and musculoskeletal complications than normal individuals. Several trials in our meta‐analysis showed that exercises during HD with few serious adverse reactions even without occurred (Cheema et al., 2007; Chen et al., 2010; Kirkman et al., 2014; Olvera‐Soto et al., 2015; Thompson et al., 2016; Wu et al., 2014). It seemed that exercises appeared to be safely in HD people if begun at low intensity and increase gradually. For minimum risk considered, one should first take a full medical history and clinical examination including cardiovascular assessment including blood pressure.

Even so, why has resistance exercises not been broadly applied in HD people? There are several reasons need to be taken into consideration. Firstly, patient‐related barriers: specific symptoms related to comorbid conditions include chronic pain, fatigue, poor physical function and dyspnoea, and comorbid diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes; secondly, staff‐related barriers: few nephrologists assess physical activity or counsel people to increase activity; thirdly, exercise‐related barriers: whether there is a prescription (frequency, intensity, type, time) of intradialytic resistance exercises that can be suitable for most HD people is still a controversial question (Bossola et al., 2014; Delgado & Johansen, 2012; Johansen, 2007; Roshanravan, Gamboa, & Wilund, 2017).

5. LIMITATION

There is some limitation should be noted. First, there were deficiencies in the reporting of methodological information, such as method of randomization, blinding and allocation conceal, and most of the included studies were small‐scale. Second, different exercise prescription including intensity, duration and modality may be a factor that potentially influences the effectiveness of exercise regime; these complicate comparisons between trials and the meta‐analysis of the trials’ results. Finally, our review was restricted to studies published in English; some literature might have been overlooked.

6. CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, our meta‐analysis confirmed the positive effects of intradialytic resistance exercises on physical performance, but the nutrient intake and quality of life in the general HD population. However, the development of well‐designed studies that have a low risk of bias and multicenter, multidisciplinary studies is needed. Anyhow, intradialytic resistance exercises are an inexpensive, safe and feasible intervention and could be as beneficial auxiliary therapeutic strategy for HD people.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

The authors have no conflicts of interest.

AUTHOR CONTRIBUTION

Fan Zhang: Study design. Fan Zhang, Ying Zhang, Zhai Yingying, Zichun Wang and Hui Su: Data collection and analysis. In addition, all authors read and approved the final manuscript.

ETHICAL APPROVAL

There is no ethical statement for this trial.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Notes

Zhang F, Zhou W, Sun Q, et al. Effects of intradialytic resistance exercises on physical performance, nutrient intake and quality of life among haemodialysis people: A systematic review and meta‐analysis. Nursing Open.2021;8:529–538. 10.1002/nop2.274 [Europe PMC free article] [Abstract] [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]

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