Associations between physical activity levels and self-perceived quality of life and well-being in hemodialysis patients and their informal caregivers: a multicenter cross-sectional study

Abstract

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the associations between the physical activity of hemodialysis (HD) patients and their informal caregivers and measures of their well-being and quality of life (QoL). METHODS: This multi-center cross-sectional study included one hundred and four HD patient- informal caregiver pairs [HD patients: 76 males (73.1%) vs. Caregivers: 32 males (30.8%)], who completed a form collecting demographic and clinical information, followed by five self-reported questionnaires: 1) The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) short form, 2) the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), 3) the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7), 4) the Fatigue Assessment Scale (FAS) and 5) the 36-Item Short Form Survey Instrument-2nd version (SF-36v2). Additionally, caregivers were also asked to complete the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI). RESULTS: HD patients had a mean IPAQ score of 856.4 MET-min/week (moderate activity). Their mean questionnaire scores were: CES-D 14.5 ± 9.0, GAD-7 5.1 ± 5.4, FAS 24.0 ± 8.0, physical component summary 41.0 ± 10.7, and mental component summary 47.7 ± 9.7. Notably, 38.5% of patients exhibited depressive symptomatology and 55.8% reported fatigue. Informal caregivers had a mean IPAQ score of 1564 MET-min/week (moderate activity) and the following mean scores: CES-D 13.7 ± 8.2, GAD-7 4.7 ± 4.7, FAS 20.4 ± 6.8, ZBI 22.2 ± 15.6, physical component summary 52.3 ± 9.7, and mental component summary 48.7 ± 8.3. Among informal caregivers, 36.5% showed depressive symptoms and 38.0% reported fatigue. CONCLUSIONS: The study demonstrated the significance of integrating physical activity and exercise into the daily routines of HD patients and their informal caregivers. More active individuals reported experiencing less fatigue, greater vitality, and improved overall physical health.