Associations between physical activity levels and renal recovery following acute kidney injury stage 3: a feasibility study

• Published in: BMC nephrology 2022-04, Vol.23 (1), p.140-140, Article 140
• Main Authors: Asad, Anam, Thomas, Amal, Dungey, Maurice, Hull, Katherine L, March, Daniel S, Burton, James O
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acute kidney injury; Acute Kidney Injury - epidemiology; Aftercare; Care and treatment; Chronic kidney failure; Creatinine; Diagnosis; Epidermal growth factor receptors; Exercise; Exercise therapy; Family medicine; Feasibility Studies; Glomerular Filtration Rate; Hospitals; Humans; Informed consent; Kidney diseases; Nephrology; Patient Discharge; Patient outcomes; Patients; Physical activity; Physical fitness; Physical training; Questionnaires; Renal recovery; Retrospective Studies; Risk factors; Services; Values
• ISSN: 1471-2369; 1471-2369
• DOI: 10.1186/s12882-022-02759-x

Acute kidney injury (AKI) can lead to chronic kidney disease, which results in poor long-term outcomes. There is plausibility that increased levels of physical activity may promote renal recovery post-AKI. This study aimed to investigate associations between physical activity levels and renal recovery following stage 3 AKI, and to assess the feasibility of measuring physical activity levels in this population. Forty One hospitalised patients with AKI stage 3 were enrolled. Serum creatinine and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were collected at 12 months prior to the development of AKI, during the hospital admission when the episode of AKI stage 3 occurred, and at 1-, 3- and 6-months post discharge. All participants completed the General Practice Activity Questionnaire (GPPAQ) to assess physical activity levels. A pedometer was also worn for 7 days immediately following discharge and at 6-months post discharge to ascertain an average daily step count. Feasibility outcomes including eligibility, recruitment and retention rates, and losses to follow up were also assessed. The average (± SD) baseline eGFR and median (IQR) serum creatinine was 71 ± 20 mL/min/1.73m and 85 (49) μmol/L respectively. A threefold increase in creatinine occurred during hospitalisation 436 (265) μmol/L. Greatest renal recovery occurred prior to discharge, with recovery continuing for a further three months. Inactive individuals (low GPPAQ scores) had consistently higher serum creatinine values compared to those who were active: 1 months 122 (111) μmol/L vs 70 (0) μmol/L, 6 months 112 (57) μmol/L vs 68 (0) μmol/L. Individuals with higher step counts also displayed better renal recovery 6-months post discharge (r = -0.600, p = 0.208). Higher levels of physical activity are associated with improved renal recovery after 6- months following an episode of stage 3 AKI. A future randomised controlled trial is feasible and would be required to confirm these initial findings.