#4416 MAINTAINING PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN PATIENTS THROUGH INTRADIALYTIC VIRTUAL REALITY EXERCISE INTERVENTION: THE REVID STUDY
Authors: Toquero Marina , Caballer Vicente Benavent , Martínez-Olmos Francisco José , Valtueña-Gimeno Noemi , Garcia-Testal Alicia , Cana-Poyatos Alicia , Rico-Salvador Inmaculada , Narbona Verónica Vercher , Gil-Gómez José Antonio , Segura Eva 
Published: June 2023

Background and Aims

People suffering from Chronic kidney disease (CKD) have lower levels of physical activity than their healthy counterparts. The lower level of physical activity is associated with impaired physical function in people undertaking hemodialysis. The COVID-19 pandemic has worsened the physical activity level of this cohort. Intradialysis exercise programs have a positive impact on many functional variables, but despite these proven benefits exercise interventions are scarce in clinical practice. Our group is implementing strategies to increase clinical applicability of exercise programs. Virtual reality (VR) intradialysis programs improve function of patients. The main aim of this study was to analyze the impact of an intradialytic non-immersive VR exercise program on physical activity level of people undertaking hemodialysis treatment.

Methods

A randomized trial (the REVID study) included two groups of patients, exercising at different times during the dialysis session for up to 12 months. The present study includes participants from the REVID study who, once the study finished, continued exercising at their preferred time during the hemodialysis treatment, with the only support of the health professionals at the HD unit. Adherence to the exercise program was measured as a percentage (number of sessions attended divided by the number of sessions offered). The physical activity level was evaluated using the Human Activity Profile (HAP) questionnaire. The HAP scale is self-administered and a list of 94 daily activities; the maximal activity score (MAS) and adjusted activity score (AAS) were calculated in this evaluation. Depending on the outcome of the HAP, patients were classified as having physical activity levels that were “impaired” (&lt;53 points), “moderately active” (53–74 points), or “active” (&gt;74 points). These patients had been exercising The intradialytic exercise consisted of a non-immersive VR game called ‘Treasure Hunt’ in which the participant try to catch targets and avoid obstacles by moving their lower limbs (hip flexion, abduction and adduction, and knee flexion and extension). The difficulty level of the game was graduated according to the characteristics of each player and the patients were allowed to change their legs during the game at their convenience. The impact of the program on physical activity level was analyzed with a non-parametric test for paired simples (p&lt;0.05).

Results

This study included 11 participants, mean age 71.6 (13.9) years, 9 males, median dialysis vintage 18 months (10 to 50 interquartile range), and Charlson index 6.3 (2.2). The AAS at the baseline of the REVID study was 66 (58-72 interquartile range). The median time that participants exercised in the REVID study was 12 months (6 to 18 months interquartile range). After 3 months of the present study, when they exercised at any time during dialysis, they maintained their physical activity level, from a median AAS of 69 (interquartile range 52-71), to a Median of 70 (interquartile range 41-74). The changes were non-significant. The mean adherence to the exercise sessions was 54.6 (11.7)%.

Conclusion

This study suggests that an intradialysis virtual reality exercise program maintains the physical activity level of elderly patients undertaking HD. Most of the participants in this long-term intervention were male and moderately active. Future interventions should include an ‘exercise champion’ professional in the units to recruit women and les conditioned participants, and to achive higher adherence rates.