Assessment of the muscular strength of the global handgrip and physical activity in patients treated with renal replacement therapy (RRT) by hemodialysis

Introduction Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a social problem. Hemodialysis is the most common method of renal replacement therapy. At the beginning of hemodialysis treatment, physical activity is reduced by 50-60%. The aim of the study was to compare physical activity, handgrip strength and selected anthropometric parameters, and to assess the relationship between handgrip strength, selected anthropometric parameters and the level of physical activity. Material and methods The study included 30 patients aged 65.92 ± 14.65 treated by hemodialysis. The study consisted of patients completing a proprietary survey questionnaire, assessing physical activity using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), handgrip strength, and performing selected anthropometric measurements. The examinations were performed at baseline (E0) and after three months of hemodialysis (E3) treatment and the results were compared. Results There were no significant differences in the study group for physical activity and global handgrip strength at baseline and after three months of the study. There was no statistically significant differences beetwen physical activity and handgrip strength in study and control group. Conclusions Patients treated with renal replacement present less physical activity compared to people with normal kidney function. The BMI value and level of physical activity does not affect the handgrip strength in hemodialysis patients.