Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a progressive condition that can lead to significant declines in physical function and quality of life, particularly in advanced stages. This study, published in the Journal of Nephrology, investigates the effects of a telehealth-supported home-based exercise program on functional capacity, sarcopenia risk, and patient-reported outcomes in non-dialysis patients with stage 4-5 CKD.
What this study does not show
While the study demonstrates improvements in various outcomes, it does not establish long-term effects or the sustainability of these benefits beyond the intervention period.
Study Overview
The randomized controlled trial involved 54 non-dialysis patients aged 45 years and older, who were randomly assigned to either a 12-week telehealth-supported exercise program combined with usual nephrology care or to usual care alone. The primary outcome measured was the change in distance covered in a 6-minute walk test, a common assessment of functional capacity.
Secondary outcomes included assessments of physical performance, sarcopenia risk, fatigue, mood symptoms, sleep quality, and health-related quality of life. The study was conducted between October 2024 and July 2025, with complete-case analyses including 51 participants.
Results
Results indicated that participants in the exercise group experienced a significant improvement in the 6-minute walk test distance, with an average increase of +29.41 meters compared to a decrease of -19.27 meters in the control group (P < .001). Additionally, improvements were noted in sarcopenia risk, fatigue levels, mood symptoms, sleep quality, physical performance, and overall quality of life.
Among the intervention participants, 40% utilized a web-based platform for support, while 60% received video-based guidance. These findings suggest that a structured exercise program, supported by telehealth, can enhance functional capacity and various quality-of-life measures in this patient population.
Evidence scorecard
- Analytic validity: established
- Clinical validity: established
- Clinical utility: established
This evidence is derived from a human randomized controlled trial.