Physical activity and related factors of hemodialysis patients: From the viewpoint of health sciences of mind and body

Abstract

This study aimed to clarify the factors related to the physical activity of hemodialysis patients, with a focus on mental health. We measured the physical activity, Kidney Disease Quality of Life (KDQOL) score, and psychological distress in 11 outpatients on hemodialysis. Clinical data were obtained from medical records. Physical activity was determined by measuring the number of daily steps and time spent in activity corresponding to ≥3 METs on non-dialysis days using a pedometer with an accelerometer. The physical activity of hemodialysis patients showed a significant positive correlation only with “burden by kidney disease” of the disease-specific QOL scale and the “overall health feeling” and “vitality” of the comprehensive QOL scale. On comparing patients with high and low physical activity, the above three QOL scale scores were significantly better in the high physical activity group than in the low physical activity group. Furthermore, patients who denied psychological burden by kidney disease had significantly greater number of steps and longer activity time compared with patients who did not deny the same; in addition, the activity time of the former group of patients in winter was higher than that in spring and autumn. These results suggest that the physical activity of hemodialysis patients is particularly related to the psychological burden by kidney disease.