Snow removal maintained a high level of physical activity in patients undergoing hemodialysis in heavy snowfall areas

Renal Replacement Therapy

Noriaki Iino¹  Yoichi Sato² 

[1] Department of Nephrology, Uonuma Institute of Community Medicine, Niigata University Medical and Dental Hospital, Niigata, Japan;Department of Rehabilitation, Uonuma Kikan Hospital, 4132 Urasa, 949-7302, Minamiuonuma, Japan;Department of Internal Medicine and Rehabilitation Science, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan;

关键词: Hemodialysis;    Physical activity;    Snow removal;    Heavy snowfall area;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s41100-021-00330-2

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundPhysical activity is an essential parameter associated with the prognosis of hemodialysis patients. Physical activity has regional characteristics; for example, snow removal is imperative in snowbelts during the winter. This study investigated the effects of removing snow on the physical activity levels of hemodialysis patients living in a snowbelt.MethodsThis study retrospectively examined 28 patients who underwent hemodialysis (age 69.6 ± 15.4 years, 19 males) in Uonuma Kikan Hospital between December 2019 and March 2020. Physical activity was assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Patients were divided into a snow remover group and a non-snow remover group. We examined whether there were differences in physical or mental functioning and physical activity between the two groups. We also investigated the factors that influence high levels of physical activity among hemodialysis patients using multivariate linear regression analysis.ResultsThe snow remover group had significantly greater grip strength, higher sit-to-stand test scores and gait speed, and a lower prevalence of frailty than the non-snow remover group. The level of physical activity was also significantly higher in the snow remover group. One of the patients in the snow remover group was frail. The univariate linear regression analysis showed that physical activity was related to age, grip strength, sit-to-stand test score, gait speed, and snow removal. In the multivariate linear regression analysis, snow removal and grip strength were significantly associated with a high level of physical activity.ConclusionsAmong hemodialysis patients living in a snowbelt, the snow remover group had significantly better physical functioning and a higher level of physical activity.

【 授权许可】

CC BY