PHYSICAL ACTIVITY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PEOPLE WITH CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE: ARE RESEARCH PARTICIPANTS REPRESENTATIVE OF REAL-WORLD PATIENTS?

Abstract

Physical activity is important to maintain good health for people with chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, people with CKD often have a complex health status which necessitates advice tailored to their safety profile. As such, this study aimed to review clinical practice recommendations on physical activity for people with CKD and evaluate how representative research participants are compared to a real-world cohort. A systematic search was completed to identify physical activity recommendations for people with CKD Stage 3-5. Primary studies that informed these recommendations were identified and data extracted. Meta-analysis of proportion was undertaken for sex, age, and comorbidities and compared to n=679 people with CKD from the Centre for Health Research Illawarra-Shoalhaven Population database. There were 17 physical activity recommendations for people with CKD. Thirteen provided physical activity guidelines for general adult populations. Three provided specific guidance on exercise prescription. Thirty-four primary studies informed these recommendations, including 22 intervention (65%); 6 aetiology (18%); 4 prognosis (12%); and 2 screening studies (6%). Twelve interventional studies were randomised controlled trials (55%). Primary intervention studies comprised 1,792 participants. Compared to the real-world cohort, research participants were significantly younger (mean age 59.7 vs 78.2); had higher proportions of male (60% vs 51%), hypertension (89% vs 80%) and peripheral vascular disease (12% vs 6%); but lower proportions of coronary artery disease (16% vs 20%) and diabetes (35% vs 38%). Physical activity recommendations for people with CKD lacked specific, tailored advice to address the complex health status and safety profile of people with CKD. Primary intervention studies that inform these recommendations included participants that were younger and had different comorbid profile when compared to a real-world cohort. Future intervention trials with pragmatic design are needed to improve the evidence base and specificity of recommendations.