Rehabilitation in patients with chronic renal insufficiency, in dialysis patients, and after renal transplantation

In the present study objective physical fitness has been investigated in 22 6 in-patients with chronic renal failure (99), chronic hemodialysis (56), a nd after renal transplantation (71) spiroergometrically during a 3 to 4 wee k training program in a German rehabilitation center for renal patients alo ng with the status of vocational rehabilitation. In addition, appropriate q uestionnaires for pre-dialysis (NFS) and dialysis patients (DIAS) were deve loped, and parameters of quality of life as well as of subjective and objec tive knowledge about renal risk factors and renal diseases were assessed. Q uality of life and subjective ratings of physical fitness were lower in dia lysis patients than in pre-dialysis patients (p < 0.05). Full employment in predialysis patients (63%) exceeded that of dialysis patients (34%). Signi ficant improvements were found in both groups after 3 - 4 weeks with respec t to quality of life (p < 0.05) as well as to maximal performance on bicycl e exercise testing (p < 0.01). Subjective (p < 0.001) as well as objective knowledge (p < 0.001) about renal risk factors and disease progression impr oved significantly (p < 0.001). In conclusion, a renal rehabilitation progr am could be useful to improve quality of life parameters, physical performa nce and knowledge about renal risk factors with the aim to maintain employm ent in renal patients.