THE IMPACT OF EXERCISE ON QUALITY OF LIFE IN DIALYSIS PATIENTS
Abstract
Background. The global prevalence of kidney failure is increasing, impacting millions. Dialysis patients face unique challenges, leading to a significant decline in their quality of life. Common issues such as sleep disturbances, anxiety, depression, and chronic fatigue are prevalent in this population. While exercise is known to improve physical function of this group of patients, this review specifically explores the impact of sport and physical activity on the quality of life of dialysis patients.
Aim. The aim of this review was to show the existing associations between exercise and quality of life in dialysed patients.
Material and methods. To gather all currently recognized information on the topic, we performed a search of the literature, including studies up to June 2025. We used PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science and Embase databases. We assessed the information included in articles published in English and Polish. We used a combination of keywords related to exercise, quality of life, dialysis, chronic kidney disease, sleep, depression, anxiety and chronic fatigue. We searched for relevant articles and chose the applicable ones to accomplish the objective of our review.
Results. Exercise demonstrably benefits the maintenance and enhancement of quality of life in dialysis patients. By alleviating symptoms of depression and anxiety, sleep disorders, chronic fatigue, and Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS), physical activity positively impacts patients' overall well-being.
Conclusions. Our study definitively shows exercise training effectively alleviates a range of debilitating symptoms in hemodialysis patients. This underscores the critical need to integrate tailored exercise interventions to significantly improve the overall health-related quality of life for this vulnerable population.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Gabriela Furtak, Dominika Pietrzyk, Maria Łagódka, Wiktoria Knobelsdorf, Wiktor Daniszewski, Maciej Ćmil, Katarzyna Zając, Wojciech Karchut, Bartosz Oder, Michał Pogoda
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