1. Context
2. Evidence Acquisition
3. Results
3.1. Association Between Sarcopenia and Mortality in CKD Patients
| References | Year | Patients No. | Study Design | Duration of Study | Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CKD Patients at Pre-Dialysis | |||||
| Chang et al. (11) | 2011 | 128 | Prospective observational study | 2.8 years | Reduced hand grip strength was an independent predictor of mortality and progression to ESRD (HR: 4.55, 95% CI: 1.49 - 13.87 in men; HR: 4.56, 95% CI: 1.27 - 16.41 in women). |
| Roshanravan et al. (12) | 2013 | 385 | Prospective observational study | 3 years | Walking speed < 0.8 m/s was associated with all-cause mortality (HR: 2.45, 95% CI: 1.09 - 5.54). |
| Pereira et al. (13) | 2015 | 287 | Prospective observational study | 3.3 years | Sarcopenia, defined as low skeletal muscle mass index and reduced hand grip strength, was an independent predictor of mortality (HR: 3.02, 95% CI: 1.30 - 7.05). |
| Patients on Hemodialysis | |||||
| Carrero et al. (14) | 2008 | 221 | Prospective observational study | 6 years | Moderate to severe muscle atrophy was associated with increased mortality (HR: 3.04, 95% CI: 1.61 - 5.71). |
| Kohl et al. (15) | 2012 | 52 | Prospective observational study | 12 years | Distance walked in the 6MWT was a survival predictor (HR: 0.53, 95% CI: 0.37 - 0.74 for each 100 meters walked with a 100-meter increment). |
| Matsuzawa et al. (16) | 2014 | 190 | Prospective observational study | 7 years | Knee extensor strength of < 40% was associated strongly with increased mortality risk (HR: 2.73, 95% CI: 1.14–6.52). |
| Isoyama et al. (17) | 2014 | 330 | Prospective observational study | 5 years | Sarcopenia, defined as low muscle mass and reduced hand grip strength, showed increased mortality risk (HR: 1.93, 95% CI: 1.01 - 3.71). |
| Kutner et al. (18) | 2015 | 752 | Prospective observational study | 3.3 years | Walk speed < 0.6 m/s was associated with increased mortality risk (HR: 2.17, 95% CI: 1.19 - 3.98). |
| Hemodialysis+ Peritoneal Dialysis | |||||
| Torino et al. (19) | 2014 | 296 | Secondary analysis of randomized controlled trial | 3.3 years | A 20-meter increase in walking during the 6MWT reduced the risk of all-cause death (HR: 0.89, 95% CI: 0.84 - 0.94). |
Abbreviations: ESRD, end stage renal disease; HR, hazard ratio; CI, confidence interval; CKD, chronic kidney disease; 6MWT, 6-minute walk test.
3.1.1. CKD Patients at the Pre-Dialysis Stage
3.1.2. Hemodialysis Patients
3.2. Association Between Physical Inactivity and Mortality in CKD Patients
| References | Year | Patients No. | Study Design | Duration of Study | Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CKD Patients at Pre-Dialysis | |||||
| Beddhu et al. (23) | 2009 | 907 | Retrospective observational study | 7 years | Increased physical activity was associated with reduced mortality (HR: 0.58, 95% CI: 0.42 - 0.79 for insufficiently active group, and HR: 0.44, 95% CI: 0.33 - 0.58 for active group compared with physically inactive group). |
| Ricardo et al. (24) | 2013 | 2288 | Prospective observational study | 13 years | Regular physical activity was associated with decreased mortality (HR: 0.80, 95% CI: 0.65 - 0.99). |
| Navaneethan et al. (25) | 2014 | 2153 | Prospective observational study | 4.5 years | Low leisure time physical activity was associated with a higher risk of death (HR: 1.36, 95% CI: 1.003 - 1.85). |
| Chen et al. (26) | 2014 | 6363 | Prospective observational study | 2.5 years | Walking was associated with lower risk for overall mortality (HR: 0.67, 95% CI: 0.53 - 0.84). |
| Patients on Hemodialysis | |||||
| Tentori et al. (27) | 2010 | 20,920 | Prospective observational study/ | 1.8 years | Mortality risk was lower among regular exercisers (HR: 0.73, 95% CI: 0.69 - 0.78). |
| Matsuzawa et al. (28) | 2012 | 202 | Prospective observational study | 7 years | Engaging in habitual physical activity was associated with decreased mortality risk (HR: 0.78, 95% CI: 0.66 - 0.92) per 10 min/day increase in physical activity. |
| Lopes et al. (29) | 2014 | 5763 | Prospective observational study | 2.5 years | Aerobic activity was associated inversely with mortality (HR: 0.60, 95% CI:0.47 - 0.77) for very active group compared with never/rarely active group. |
| Hemodialysis + Peritoneal Dialysis | |||||
| O’Hare et al. (30) | 2003 | 2837 | Prospective observational study | 1 year | Sedentary behavior was associated with an increased mortality risk (HR: 1.62, 95% CI: 1.16 - 2.27). |
Abbreviations: CI, confidence interval; CKD, chronic kidney disease; HR, hazard ratio.
3.2.1. CKD Patients at the Pre-Dialysis Stage
3.2.2. Hemodialysis Patients
3.3. Therapeutic Strategies to Improve Sarcopenia and Physical Inactivity
3.3.1. Exercise Training
| References | Year | Patients No. (Exercise) | Patients No. (Control) | Study | Duration of Study | Exercise Training | Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CKD Patients at Pre-Dialysis | |||||||
| Rossi et al. (32) | 2014 | 59 | 48 | RCT | 12 weeks | Weight training and treadmill: 2 times/week. | Improved 6-min walk distance (P < 0.001). |
| Watson et al. (33) | 2015 | 21 | 14 | RCT | 8 weeks | Progressive resistance exercise: 3 times/week. | Increased rectus femoris anatomical cross-sectional area (P = 0.006), volume (P = 0.009), and knee extensor strength (P < 0.001). |
| Patients on Hemodialysis | |||||||
| DePaul et al. (34) | 2002 | 20 | 18 | RCT | 12 weeks | Resisted isotonic quadriceps and hamstring exercises and ergometer: 3 times/week. | Improved hamstring and quadriceps muscle strength (P = 0.02). |
| Castaneda et al. (35) | 2004 | 14 | 12 | RCT | 12 weeks | Resistance training: 45 min, 3 times/week. | Improved muscle strength (P = 0.001). |
| van Vilsteren et al. (36) | 2005 | 53 | 43 | RCT | 12 weeks | Cycling during dialysis, together with pre-dialysis strength training: 2 - 3 times/week. | Increased lower extremity muscle strength (P < 0.05). |
| Cheema et al. (37) | 2007 | 24 | 25 | RCT | 12 weeks | High-intensity, progressive resistance training during routine hemodialysis treatment. | Improved muscle strength (P = 0.002), midthigh circumference (P = 0.04) and midarm circumference (P = 0.004). |
| Kirkman et al. (38) | 2014 | 12 | 11 | RCT | 12 weeks | Resistance training: 3 times/week during hemodialysis sessions. | Increased thigh muscle volume (P = 0.007) and knee extensor strength (P = 0.012) |
| Matsufuji et al. (39) | 2015 | 12 | 15 | RCT | 12 weeks | Chair stand exercise 3 sessions/week. | Increased thigh circumference (p < 0.05). |
| Howden et al. (40) | 2015 | 36 | 36 | RCT | 48 weeks | Aerobic and resistance exercise 150 minutes/week. | Improved grip strength (P = 0.03) and 6-minutes’ walk distance (P < 0.001). |
Abbreviations: CI, confidence interval; CKD, chronic kidney disease; HR, hazard ratio; RCT randomized control study.

