Abstract
This study aimed to determine the effects of comprehensive rehabilitation on the serum phosphate levels and ability to perform activities of daily living (ADL) of elderly hemodialysis (HD) patients in a geriatric healthcare facility. This study was a retrospective, single-center, before-after study of 72 HD patients (32 males, 40 females; mean age: 78.3±9.0). In addition, we divided the subjects into three groups based on their serum phosphate levels; i.e., into high (>6.0 mg/dL, n=10), moderate (≥3.5 and ≤6.0 mg/dL, n=45), and low (<3.5 mg/dL, n=17) serum phosphate groups. Blood tests and the functional independence measure (FIM) were performed at the baseline and after 3 months. The subjects’ FIM scores significantly increased during the study (baseline: 88.8±24.4, 3 months: 92.4±22.5, p=0.0014). Subgroup analysis showed significant changes in the serum phosphate levels (mg/dL±SD) of the high (baseline: 6.6±0.9, 3 months: 4.9±0.9, p=0.002) and low serum phosphate groups (baseline: 2.6±0.7, 3 months: 3.8±0.9, p<0.001). A combination of nutritional care and exercise in long-term healthcare facilities can have beneficial effects on the serum phosphate levels and ability to perform ADL of elderly HD patients.
