THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND KIDNEY FUNCTION/CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Chronic kidney disease is a serious public health concern because of the large physical and economic burden on society. Because of this large burden, it is important to determine what factors are associated with the development and progression of the disease, especially in early stages. Physical activity has been shown to be related to many risk factors for CKD; however, few studies have assessed its direct relationship with kidney function. METHODS: Using data from NHANES, a nationally representative U.S., we described physical activity by various intensities, gender and race/ethnicity (paper 1). We then investigated the cross-sectional relationship between varying intensities of objectively assessed physical activity and kidney function in the same population (paper 2). Using data from the Strong Heart Study, an American Indian cohort at high risk for CKD, we investigated the relationship between subjectively assessed physical activity with kidney function prospectively (paper 3). RESULTS: We showed that Mexican Americans were more physically active than whites and blacks at all levels of intensity, in contrast to findings using questionnaires. We also confirmed that light intensity activity made the largest contribution to total movement. In paper 2, we showed that objectively assessed light intensity physical activity was independently associated with kidney function while objectively and subjectively assessed moderate to vigorous physical activity was not. In paper 3 we showed that physical inactivity was associated with rapid declines and kidney THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND KIDNEY FUNCTION/CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE Marquis Hawkins, PhD University of Pittsburgh, 2010 vi function over a five year period. Physical inactivity was also associated with development of kidney damage over a ten year period. PUBLIC HEALTH SIGNIFICANCE: The results of these three papers show that physical activity of various intensities are related to kidney function and that physical activity may also preserve kidney function over time in a high risk population. Previous recommendations for physical activity and health were unable to discuss the benefits of physical activity on kidney function because the paucity of evidence. This study is of public health significance because it adds to the growing body of evidence for which we can base our future recommendations.