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For Kidney
Disease Patients, staying active might mean
staying alive
Newswise — Getting off the couch could lead
to a longer life for kidney disease
patients, according to a study appearing in
an upcoming issue of the JClinical Journal
of the American Society Nephrology (CJASN).
The findings indicate that, as in the
general population, exercise has significant
health benefits for individuals with kidney
dysfunction.
Many patients with chronic kidney disease
(CKD) die prematurely, but not from effects
directly related to kidney problems.
Because physical activity has known health
benefits, Srinivasan Beddhu, MD (Salt Lake
City VA Healthcare System and University of
Utah), and his colleagues researched the
question of whether or not exercise can help
prolong CKD patients’ lives.
The study included 15,368 adult participants
(5.9% of whom had CKD) in the National
Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III,
a survey of the US population.
After answering a questionnaire on the
frequency and intensity of their leisure
time physical activity, participants were
divided into inactive, insufficiently
active, and active groups. On average,
participants were followed for seven to nine
years.
The researchers found that 28% of
individuals with CKD were inactive, compared
with 13.5% of non-CKD individuals.
Active and insufficiently active CKD
patients were 56% and 42% less likely to die
during the study than inactive CKD patients,
respectively.
Similar survival benefits associated with
physical activity were seen in individuals
without CKD.
“These data suggest that increased physical
activity might have a survival benefit in
the CKD population.
"This
is particularly important as most patients
with stage III CKD die before they develop
end stage renal disease,” the authors wrote.
The authors report no financial disclosures.
Study co-authors include Bradley Baird,
Jennifer Zitterkoph, Jill Neilson, and Tom
Greene, PhD (University of Utah School of
Medicine).
The American Society of Nephrology (ASN)
does not offer medical advice. All content
in ASN publications is for informational
purposes only, and is not intended to cover
all possible uses, directions, precautions,
drug interactions, or adverse effects.
This content should not be used during a
medical emergency or for the diagnosis or
treatment of any medical condition.
Please consult your doctor or other
qualified health care provider if you have
any questions about a medical condition, or
before taking any drug, changing your diet
or commencing or discontinuing any course of
treatment.
Do
not ignore or delay obtaining professional
medical advice because of information
accessed through ASN. Call 911 or your
doctor for all medical emergencies.
Founded in 1966, the American Society of
Nephrology (ASN) is the world’s largest
professional society devoted to the study of
kidney disease.
Comprised of 11,000 physicians and
scientists, ASN continues to promote expert
patient care, to advance medical research,
and to educate the renal community.
ASN
also informs policymakers about issues of
importance to kidney doctors and their
patients. ASN funds research, and through
its world-renowned meetings and first-class
publications, disseminates information and
educational tools that empower physicians.
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