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Cardiorespiratory fitness and mortality risk in patients receiving hemodialysis: a prospective cohort

ABSTRACT

Background:

Kidney failure reduces life expectancy by one-third compared with the general population, and cardiovascular complications and poor cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) are the main causes. We aimed to evaluate the association between severely low CRF and all-cause mortality risk in HD patients.

Methods:

This observational prospective cohort study followed-up patients receiving HD from August 2015 until March 2022. Cardiorespiratory fitness was evaluated through the cardiopulmonary exercise test, and the peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) value was used to determine severely low CRF (< 15 mL∙kg−1∙min−1). Cox regression and univariate Kaplan-Meier analysis were used to evaluate the association of severely low CRF with mortality risk and survival rate.

Results:

Forty-eight patients were followed-up for a median of 33.0 [14.3 – 49.3] months. A total of 26 patients had severely low CRF. During the follow-up period, 11 patients (22.92%) died from all causes. From these, eight (30.8%) had severely low CRF. Even so, severely low CRF was not associated with crude death rates for patients stratified by CRF levels (p = 0.189), neither in unadjusted (HR 2.18; CI 95% 0.58−8.23) nor in adjusted (HR 1.32; CI 95% 0.31−5.59) Cox proportional hazard models. As a continuous variable, VO2peak was not associated with mortality risk (HR 1.01; CI 95% 0.84−1.21). Univariate Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that patients with severely low CRF did not have significantly worse survival rates than those with mild-moderate CRF (p = 0.186).

Conclusion:

Our findings indicated that severely low CRF was not associated with all-cause mortality in patients on HD. Despite severely low CRF being prevalent, larger cohort studies are needed to establish strong conclusions on its association with all-cause mortality.

KEYWORDS:
Renal Insufficienc; Chroni; Renal Dialysi; Cardiorespiratory Fitnes; Peak Oxygen Uptak; Mortality

RESUMO

Introdução

A insuficiência renal reduz a expectativa de vida em um terço comparada à população em geral. Complicações cardiovasculares e baixa aptidão cardiorrespiratória (ACR) são as principais causas. Avaliamos a associação entre ACR muito baixa e risco de mortalidade por todas as causas em pacientes em HD.

Métodos

Este estudo de coorte prospectivo observacional acompanhou pacientes em HD de agosto/2015 a março/2022. Avaliou-se a aptidão cardiorrespiratória pelo teste de exercício cardiopulmonar, e o valor do pico do consumo de oxigênio (VO2pico) foi usado para determinar ACR muito baixa (< 15 mL∙kg−1∙min−1). Utilizamos regressão de Cox e análise univariada de Kaplan-Meier para avaliar associação da ACR muito baixa com o risco de mortalidade e taxa de sobrevida.

Resultados

Acompanhamos 48 pacientes por uma média de 33,0 [14,3 – 49,3] meses. Um total de 26 pacientes apresentaram ACR muito baixa. No período de acompanhamento, 11 pacientes (22,92%) foram a óbito por todas as causas. Destes, oito (30,8%) apresentavam ACR muito baixa. Mesmo assim, ACR muito baixa não foi associada a taxas brutas de mortalidade para pacientes estratificados por níveis de ACR (p = 0,189), nem em modelos de risco proporcional de Cox não ajustados (HR 2,18; IC 95% 0,58–8,23) ou ajustados (HR 1,32; IC 95% 0,31–5,59). Como variável contínua, VO2pico não foi associado ao risco de mortalidade (HR 1,01; IC 95% 0,84–1,21). A análise univariada de Kaplan-Meier mostrou que pacientes com ACR muito baixa não apresentaram taxas de sobrevida significativamente piores do que aqueles com ACR leve-moderada (p = 0,186).

Conclusão

Nossos achados indicaram que a ACR muito baixa não foi associada à mortalidade por todas as causas em pacientes em HD. Apesar de ACR muito baixa ser prevalente, são necessários estudos de coorte maiores para estabelecer conclusões sólidas sobre sua associação com mortalidade por todas as causas.

Descritores:
Insuficiência Renal Crônica; Diálise Renal; Aptidão Cardiorrespiratória; Consumo de Oxigênio de Pico; Mortalidade

Introduction

Kidney failure reduces life expectancy by one-third compared with the general population11. ERA-EDTA Registry. ERA-EDTA Registry Annual Report 2019. Amsterdam, the Netherlands: Department of Medical Informatics; 2021.. Different factors are associated with morbidity and mortality in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients, mainly those in hemodialysis (HD), such as cardiovascular complications and poor cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF)22. Lim K, McGregor G, Coggan AR, Lewis GD, Moe SM. Cardiovascular functional changes in chronic kidney disease: integrative physiology, pathophysiology and applications of cardiopulmonary exercise testing. Front Physiol. 2020;11:572355. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2020.572355. PubMed PMID: 33041870.
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,33. Torino C, Manfredini F, Bolignano D, Aucella F, Baggetta R, Barillà A, et al. Physical performance and clinical outcomes in dialysis patients: a secondary analysis of the excite trial EXCITE working group. Kidney Blood Press Res. 2014;39(2–3):205–11. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1159/000355798. PubMed PMID: 25118076.
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,44. Howden EJ, Weston K, Leano R, Sharman JE, Marwick TH, Isbel NM, et al. Cardiorespiratory fitness and cardiovascular burden in chronic kidney disease. J Sci Med Sport. 2015;18(4):492–7. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2014.07.005. PubMed PMID: 25127529.
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,55. Sietsema KE, Amato A, Adler SG, Brass EP. Exercise capacity as a predictor of survival among ambulatory patients with end-stage renal disease. Kidney Int. 2004;65(2):719–24. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1523-1755.2004.00411.x. PubMed PMID: 14717947.
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,66. Mandsager K, Harb S, Cremer P, Phelan D, Nissen SE, Jaber W. Association of cardiorespiratory fitness with long-term mortality among adults undergoing exercise treadmill testing. JAMA Netw Open. 2018;1(6):e183605. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2018.3605. PubMed PMID: 30646252.
https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen....
. CRF is affected by both CKD and HD treatment and is strongly related to a wide spectrum of health outcomes, including poor cardiovascular health22. Lim K, McGregor G, Coggan AR, Lewis GD, Moe SM. Cardiovascular functional changes in chronic kidney disease: integrative physiology, pathophysiology and applications of cardiopulmonary exercise testing. Front Physiol. 2020;11:572355. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2020.572355. PubMed PMID: 33041870.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2020.57235...
.

CRF undergoes a physiological drop with aging. As shown by Imboden et al.77. Imboden MT, Harber MP, Whaley MH, Finch WH, Bishop DL, Fleenor BS, et al. The association between the change in directly measured cardiorespiratory fitness across time and mortality risk. Prog Cardiovasc Dis. 2019;62(2):157–62. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pcad.2018.12.003. PubMed PMID: 30543812.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pcad.2018.12.0...
, a decline in peak of oxygen uptake (VO2peak) of 1-MET per decade was observed in healthy individuals. In addition to aging, patients undergoing HD may have poor CRF due to the sedentary pattern and exercise limitation that are common in patients on HD88. Barnea N, Drory Y, Iaina A, Lapidot C, Reisin E, Eliahou H, et al. Exercise tolerance in patients on chronic hemodialysis. Isr J Med Sci. 1980;16(1):17–21. PubMed PMID: 7358510.. Martins et al.99. Martins P, Marques EA, Leal DV, Ferreira A, Wilund KR, Viana JL. Association between physical activity and mortality in end-stage kidney disease: a systematic review of observational studies. BMC Nephrol. 2021;22(1):227. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12882-021-02407-w. PubMed PMID: 34144689.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12882-021-02407...
performed a systematic review of observational studies and found a significant reduction in all-cause mortality with increased levels of physical activity in patients with CKD. In addition, previous research proposed that both an increase in physical activity level1010. Cho JH, Lee JY, Lee S, Park H, Choi SW, Kim JC. Effect of intradialytic exercise on daily physical activity and sleep quality in maintenance hemodialysis patients. Int Urol Nephrol. 2018;50(4):745–54. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11255-018-1796-y. PubMed PMID: 29362960.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11255-018-1796-...
and CRF1111. Zang W, Fang M, He H, Mu L, Zheng X, Shu H, et al. Comparative efficacy of exercise modalities for cardiopulmonary function in hemodialysis patients: a systematic review and network meta-analysis. Front Public Health. 2022;10:1040704. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2022.1040704. PubMed PMID: 36530731.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2022.10407...
and a reduction in morbidity1212. Mallamaci F, D’Arrigo G, Tripepi G, Lamberti N, Torino C, Manfredini F, et al. Long-term effect of physical exercise on the risk for hospitalization and death in dialysis patients. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2022;17(8):1176–82. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.2215/CJN.03160322. PubMed PMID: 35878932.
https://doi.org/10.2215/CJN.03160322...
in these patients may be reached through exercise programs.

CRF is mainly evaluated through a cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET), which is lab-based and considered the gold standard. The CPET provides an objective determination of CRF through direct measurement of VO2peak1313. American Thoracic Society, American College of Chest Physicians. ATS/ACCP Statement on cardiopulmonary exercise testing. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2003;167(2):211–77. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1164/rccm.167.2.211. PubMed PMID: 12524257.
https://doi.org/10.1164/rccm.167.2.211...
. Patients receiving HD commonly show lower VO2peak than healthy individuals1414. Sakkas GK, Sargeant AJ, Mercer TH, Ball D, Koufaki P, Karatzaferi C, et al. Changes in muscle morphology in dialysis patients after 6 months of aerobic exercise training. Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2003;18(9):1854–61. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ndt/gfg237. PubMed PMID: 12937235.
https://doi.org/10.1093/ndt/gfg237...
and this lower CRF seems to be a strong predictor of mortality55. Sietsema KE, Amato A, Adler SG, Brass EP. Exercise capacity as a predictor of survival among ambulatory patients with end-stage renal disease. Kidney Int. 2004;65(2):719–24. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1523-1755.2004.00411.x. PubMed PMID: 14717947.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1523-1755.2004...
.

According to Sietsema et al.55. Sietsema KE, Amato A, Adler SG, Brass EP. Exercise capacity as a predictor of survival among ambulatory patients with end-stage renal disease. Kidney Int. 2004;65(2):719–24. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1523-1755.2004.00411.x. PubMed PMID: 14717947.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1523-1755.2004...
, a higher mortality rate is seen in patients receiving HD with VO2peak values < 17.5 mL∙kg−1∙min−11. ERA-EDTA Registry. ERA-EDTA Registry Annual Report 2019. Amsterdam, the Netherlands: Department of Medical Informatics; 2021.,55. Sietsema KE, Amato A, Adler SG, Brass EP. Exercise capacity as a predictor of survival among ambulatory patients with end-stage renal disease. Kidney Int. 2004;65(2):719–24. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1523-1755.2004.00411.x. PubMed PMID: 14717947.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1523-1755.2004...
. Even so, no recent study has explored this association and there is a need to understand this phenomenon in order to develop future strategies to prevent or treat cardiovascular complications associated with poor CRF, such as mortality. In this sense, measures of exercise capacity that reflect cardiovascular health may be important for risk assessment in these patients. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the association between severely low CRF and VO2peak values with all-cause mortality in patients receiving HD.

Methods

Data Source and Study Population

This was an observational prospective cohort study that evaluated CKD patients undergoing conventional HD treatment. Patients were eligible for inclusion if they were aged >18 years, on HD ≥3 months, and had clinical stability (i.e., absence of hospitalization in the previous 30 days). Exclusion criteria were acute myocardial infarction within 3 months, inflammatory process under treatment with anti-inflammatory or antibiotic drugs in the previous 30 days, decompensated coronary artery disease, symptomatic peripheral arterial disease, arterial access in the lower limbs, musculoskeletal impairment, and serum hemoglobin level < 10.0 g/dL (100 g/L). The study was approved by the Ethics and Research Committee of Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), under the number CAAE 40167014.3.0000.5327. Written informed consent was obtained according to the Declaration of Helsinki. This study is reported as per the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) checklist.

Follow-Up Period

In March 2022, approximately 79 months after the baseline assessments, the researchers consulted the medical record of the patients to ascertain survival status and date of death.

Measurements

Data collection

Demographic data including age, sex, smoking habits, weight, body mass index (BMI), and use of beta-blockers medication were collected. In addition, patients were asked about their exercise routine twice or more times a week. Dialysis-related factors, including the cause of CKD and HD vintage, were also collected.

Cardiopulmonary exercise test

CPET was performed on a non-dialysis day using a cycle ergometer to evaluate the relative VO2peak (mL∙kg−1∙min−1), ventilation (VE), oxygen (O2) pulse, CPET duration (minutes), CPET work rate (Watts [W]), respiratory rate (RR), and heart rate (HR) on VO2peak. The test was applied with an incremental load of 5 or 10 W per minute1313. American Thoracic Society, American College of Chest Physicians. ATS/ACCP Statement on cardiopulmonary exercise testing. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2003;167(2):211–77. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1164/rccm.167.2.211. PubMed PMID: 12524257.
https://doi.org/10.1164/rccm.167.2.211...
. The incremental load protocol was defined by the authors according to the American Thoracic Society (ATS) and the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP)1313. American Thoracic Society, American College of Chest Physicians. ATS/ACCP Statement on cardiopulmonary exercise testing. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2003;167(2):211–77. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1164/rccm.167.2.211. PubMed PMID: 12524257.
https://doi.org/10.1164/rccm.167.2.211...
guidelines and according to CKD cause. Those with suspicion of hypertension as CKD cause were submitted to a 5-W increment due to possible hemodynamic and cardiovascular acute adverse events. Subjects with other CKD causes had a 10-W increase protocol. In addition, all patients were instructed to maintain their routine medications, such as beta-blockers and vasodilators.

CPET was performed in the Vmax® Encore metabolic cart system (CareFusion, San Diego, California, USA) using a gas analyzer. A 10-lead CardioSoft electrocardiogram was used to evaluate the heart electrical function. The subjects were also monitored during the whole CPET through pulse oximetry to obtain oxygen saturation, and a manual sphygmomanometer in the non-fistulated arm was used to obtain the blood pressure. Arterial pressure, dyspnea perception, and lower limb fatigue (evaluated by the Borg CR10 Scale) were constantly registered1313. American Thoracic Society, American College of Chest Physicians. ATS/ACCP Statement on cardiopulmonary exercise testing. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2003;167(2):211–77. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1164/rccm.167.2.211. PubMed PMID: 12524257.
https://doi.org/10.1164/rccm.167.2.211...
,1515. Borg GA. Psychophysical bases of perceived exertion. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1982;14(5):377–81. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1249/00005768-198205000-00012. PubMed PMID: 7154893.
https://doi.org/10.1249/00005768-1982050...
. Patients were verbally encouraged by physiotherapists before and during the whole CPET to obtain a maximum physiological exertion (respiratory exchange ratio [RER] >1.0)1313. American Thoracic Society, American College of Chest Physicians. ATS/ACCP Statement on cardiopulmonary exercise testing. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2003;167(2):211–77. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1164/rccm.167.2.211. PubMed PMID: 12524257.
https://doi.org/10.1164/rccm.167.2.211...
. CPET consisted of 4 phases: a) three-minute rest to verified the absence of hyperventilation; b) a warm-up unloaded cycling (0 W for two-minute); c) an exercise phase with increments every minute (5/10 W – cycling rate at 60–65 revolutions per minute) until the subject signals to stop the test because of volitional exhaustion associated with an RER >1.0 or the test is ended by the medical professional. If the subject did not reach an RER >1.0, they were encouraged to continue the test; d) an active recovery phase, unloaded (0 W for one-minute). CPET was interrupted as suggested by the ATS/ACCP under the supervision of a physician1313. American Thoracic Society, American College of Chest Physicians. ATS/ACCP Statement on cardiopulmonary exercise testing. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2003;167(2):211–77. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1164/rccm.167.2.211. PubMed PMID: 12524257.
https://doi.org/10.1164/rccm.167.2.211...
.

Cardiorespiratory fitness level

Patients receiving HD were separated into two groups according to their CRF levels, which were determined using the VO2peak values according to the ATS suggestion. Patients with VO2peak< 15 mL∙kg−1∙min−1 were considered as severely low CRF and were defined as the exposure group. Mild-moderate CRF was considered for patients with VO2peak ≥15 mL∙kg−1∙min−11717. Neder JA, Nery LE, Bagatin E, Lucas SR, Anção MS, Sue DY. Differences between remaining ability and loss of capacity in maximum aerobic impairment. Braz J Med Biol Res. 1998;31(5):639–46. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0100-879X1998000500006. PubMed PMID: 9698768.
https://doi.org/10.1590/S0100-879X199800...
,1616. Evaluation of impairment/disability secondary to respiratory disorders. American Thoracic Society. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1986;133(6):1205–9. PubMed PMID: 3509148..

Statistical Analyses

Continuous data are presented as median and interquartile range or mean and standard deviation, depending on data normality. Categorical data are shown as frequencies and percentages. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used to check continuous data for normality. Comparisons among the VO2peak groups were conducted using the Wilcoxon Mann-Whitney test or the independent Student t-test for continuous variables. Categorical data were compared using the Chi-Square or Fisher’s exact tests.

Fisher’s exact test was used to compare crude death rates, and univariate survival analyses were performed using the log-rank test on survival curves created with the Kaplan-Meier method. Survival data were not censored at the time of kidney transplantation. To investigate the association between severely low CRF and all-cause mortality, time-to-event data were considered. The Cox proportional hazard model with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated, and survival data were also not censored at the time of kidney transplantation. Patients with mild-moderate CRF were considered the reference group. Potential confounders (age, gender, BMI, and HD vintage) were added in the adjusted model1818. Kutner NG, Zhang R, Huang Y, Painter P. Gait Speed and mortality, hospitalization, and functional status change among hemodialysis patients: a US renal data system special study. Am J Kidney Dis. 2015;66(2):297–304. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1053/j.ajkd.2015.01.024. PubMed PMID: 25824124.
https://doi.org/10.1053/j.ajkd.2015.01.0...
. Due to the small sample size, no sensitivity analysis was carried out. All analyses were performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (version 26.0, SPSS Inc, Chicago, USA) and GraphPad Prism (version 8, GraphPad Software, San Diego, USA). In addition, the sample power calculation for mortality ratio was performed using the PSS Health online version1919. Borges RB, Mancuso ACB, Camey SA, Leotti VB, Hirakata VN, Azambuja GS, et al. Power and Sample Size for Health Researchers: uma ferramenta para cálculo de tamanho amostral e poder do teste voltado a pesquisadores da área da saúde. Clin Biomed Res. 2020;40(4):247–53. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.22491/2357-9730.109542.
https://doi.org/10.22491/2357-9730.10954...
. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

Baseline and Follow-Up Characteristics

Sixty-one patients on HD were assessed for eligibility criteria. Eight patients declined to participate, two patients had lower limb vascular access, two patients had decompensated coronary arterial disease and one patient was lost to follow-up. Therefore, 48 patients on HD were evaluated and followed-up from August, 2015 until March, 2022 for a median of 33.0 [interquartile range: 14.3 – 49.3] months. In addition, the patients were separated into two groups according to their CRF levels, and baseline characteristics are shown in Table 1. All patients used beta-blocker medication. Only one patient had the CPET interrupted by the physician due to ischemic electrocardiographic abnormalities. This interruption occurred after reaching an RER >1.0.

Table 1.
General characteristics of the patients receiving hemodialysis according to CRF level

Patients with severely low CRF were older (60.5 ± 11.4 versus 45.7 ± 15.5, p < 0.001) and more of them were smokers (73.1% versus 31.8%, p = 0.009). In addition, according to the self-reported exercise routine, a total of 58.3% of patients were enrolled in an intradialytic exercise program or attended a sports center during the follow-up period two or more times a week. Although there was an expressive difference between the groups (72.7% versus 46.2%), the comparison by self-reported exercise routine did not show a significant difference (p = 0.063), as shown in Table 1.

Table 2 shows the difference in CRF variables between groups. Severely low CRF patients had worse respiratory performance on CPET evaluated through VE (p < 0.001) and RR (p < 0.001), worse exercise tolerance evaluated through the CPET duration (p = 0.022) and final work rate (p < 0.001), and worse cardiac performance evaluated through HR on VO2peak (p = 0.001) and O2 pulse predict value (p = 0.012). The CR10 Borg scale for lower limb fatigue (p = 0.535) and dyspnea (p = 0.451) were not different between groups. During the follow-up period, 21 patients (43.7%) remained in HD treatment, 16 patients (33.3%) were transplanted, and 11 patients (22.9%) died of all causes.

Table 2.
Cardiorespiratory fitness according to CRF level

Association Between CRF and Mortality

Eight patients (30.8%) with severely low CRF died during the follow-up period; Fisher’s exact test showed an absence of statistical significance in the comparison of the crude death rates for patients stratified by CRF levels (p = 0.189). In addition, the univariate Kaplan-Meier analysis (Figure 1) showed that patients with severely low CRF did not have a significantly worse survival rate than those with mild-moderate CRF (p = 0.186). Cox proportional hazard model showed that severely low CRF was not associated with all-cause mortality in both unadjusted (HR 2.18; 95% CI 0.58−8.23) and adjusted models (HR 1.32; CI 95% 0.31−5.59). A 14.6% sample power was achieved to test whether the mortality ratio in patients with severely low CRF is different from 30.8%. This result (calculated by the exact method) was obtained considering a significance level of 5%, a sample size of 26 subjects, and an expected mortality of 22%, as found by Sietsema et al.55. Sietsema KE, Amato A, Adler SG, Brass EP. Exercise capacity as a predictor of survival among ambulatory patients with end-stage renal disease. Kidney Int. 2004;65(2):719–24. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1523-1755.2004.00411.x. PubMed PMID: 14717947.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1523-1755.2004...
. As a continuous variable, VO2peak was not associated with mortality risk (HR 1.01; 95% CI 0.84−1.21).

Figure 1.
Survival analysis of all-cause mortality according to the CRF level.

Discussion

We hypothesized that severely low CRF is associated with all-cause mortality risk in patients receiving HD. Although almost 35% of patients with severely low CRF died during the follow-up period, our results did not confirm our hypothesis, as there was no significant association between severely low CRF and all-cause mortality risk, even after adjustment for age, BMI, and HD vintage.

CRF has been described as a predictor of mortality in different populations, mainly to predict mortality from cardiovascular events2020. Ezzatvar Y, Izquierdo M, Núñez J, Calatayud J, Ramírez-Vélez R, García-Hermoso A. Cardiorespiratory fitness measured with cardiopulmonary exercise testing and mortality in patients with cardiovascular disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Sport Health Sci. 2021;10(6):609–19. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jshs.2021.06.004. PubMed PMID: 34198003.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jshs.2021.06.0...
,2121. Kodama S, Saito K, Tanaka S, Maki M, Yachi Y, Asumi M, et al. Cardiorespiratory fitness as a quantitative predictor of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular events in healthy men and women. JAMA. 2009;301(19):2024–35. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.2009.681. PubMed PMID: 19454641.
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,2222. Steell L, Ho FK, Sillars A, Petermann-Rocha F, Li H, Lyall DM, et al. Dose-response associations of cardiorespiratory fitness with all-cause mortality and incidence and mortality of cancer and cardiovascular and respiratory diseases: the UK Biobank cohort study. Br J Sports Med. 2019;53(21):1371–8. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2018-099093. PubMed PMID: 30796106.
https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2018-09...
. Studies that evaluate the association between mortality and CRF using VO2peak values in CKD patients are scarce in the literature. As far as we know, the studies performed by Sietsema et al.55. Sietsema KE, Amato A, Adler SG, Brass EP. Exercise capacity as a predictor of survival among ambulatory patients with end-stage renal disease. Kidney Int. 2004;65(2):719–24. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1523-1755.2004.00411.x. PubMed PMID: 14717947.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1523-1755.2004...
and Kohl et al.2323. Kohl LM, Signori LU, Ribeiro RA, Silva AM, Moreira PR, Dipp T, et al. Prognostic value of the six-minute walk test in end-stage renal disease life expectancy: a prospective cohort study. Clinics (São Paulo). 2012;67(6):581–6. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.6061/clinics/2012(06)06. PubMed PMID: 22760895.
https://doi.org/10.6061/clinics/2012(06)...
evaluated mortality risk associated with CRF assessed through CPET in patients receiving HD. Sietsema et al.55. Sietsema KE, Amato A, Adler SG, Brass EP. Exercise capacity as a predictor of survival among ambulatory patients with end-stage renal disease. Kidney Int. 2004;65(2):719–24. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1523-1755.2004.00411.x. PubMed PMID: 14717947.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1523-1755.2004...
evaluated 175 patients over 3.5 years. They found a significant association between CRF assessed through VO2peak and mortality risk. A VO2peak >17.5 mL∙kg−1∙min−1 was a powerful predictor of survival. In addition, age was an additional factor that significantly enhanced the predictive value55. Sietsema KE, Amato A, Adler SG, Brass EP. Exercise capacity as a predictor of survival among ambulatory patients with end-stage renal disease. Kidney Int. 2004;65(2):719–24. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1523-1755.2004.00411.x. PubMed PMID: 14717947.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1523-1755.2004...
.

Sietsema et al.55. Sietsema KE, Amato A, Adler SG, Brass EP. Exercise capacity as a predictor of survival among ambulatory patients with end-stage renal disease. Kidney Int. 2004;65(2):719–24. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1523-1755.2004.00411.x. PubMed PMID: 14717947.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1523-1755.2004...
applied the median VO2peak values as a cut-off to perform mortality analysis. We believe that the CRF of our subjects was worse than theirs because our VO2peak median value was 14.1 mL∙kg−1∙min−1 and theirs was 17.5 mL∙kg−1∙min−1. Based on that and because of the ATS statement, we decided to diagnose our patients according to CRF severity1616. Evaluation of impairment/disability secondary to respiratory disorders. American Thoracic Society. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1986;133(6):1205–9. PubMed PMID: 3509148.. According to the ATS statement, patients with a VO2peak <15 mL∙kg−1∙min−1 have a physical disadvantage in performing activities that require physical effort. On the other hand, if VO2peak is ≥15 mL∙kg−1∙min−1, the patient can perform physical effort comfortably. For this reason, Neder et al.2424. Neder JA, Nery LE, Bagatin E, Lucas SR, Anção MS, Sue DY. Differences between remaining ability and loss of capacity in maximum aerobic impairment. Braz J Med Biol Res. 1998;31(5):639–46. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0100-879X1998000500006. PubMed PMID: 9698768.
https://doi.org/10.1590/S0100-879X199800...
considered that VO2peak <15 mL∙kg−1∙min−1 is considered a severely low CRF and VO2peak ≥15 mL∙kg−1∙min−1 is considered a mild-moderate CRF. Our results showed that those with severely low CRF had worse respiratory and cardiac performance, evaluated through ventilation and O2 pulse, respectively, as well as lower exercise tolerance on CPET, determined through CPET duration and final work rate. In addition, it is important to highlight that, although it was not statistically significant, patients with severely low CRF reported a lower frequency of exercise routine, an outcome that may influence the mortality rate99. Martins P, Marques EA, Leal DV, Ferreira A, Wilund KR, Viana JL. Association between physical activity and mortality in end-stage kidney disease: a systematic review of observational studies. BMC Nephrol. 2021;22(1):227. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12882-021-02407-w. PubMed PMID: 34144689.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12882-021-02407...
.

Interestingly, different from Sietsema et al.55. Sietsema KE, Amato A, Adler SG, Brass EP. Exercise capacity as a predictor of survival among ambulatory patients with end-stage renal disease. Kidney Int. 2004;65(2):719–24. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1523-1755.2004.00411.x. PubMed PMID: 14717947.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1523-1755.2004...
, our findings did not indicate a significant association between severely low CRF and all-cause mortality. Similar to ours, Kohl et al.2323. Kohl LM, Signori LU, Ribeiro RA, Silva AM, Moreira PR, Dipp T, et al. Prognostic value of the six-minute walk test in end-stage renal disease life expectancy: a prospective cohort study. Clinics (São Paulo). 2012;67(6):581–6. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.6061/clinics/2012(06)06. PubMed PMID: 22760895.
https://doi.org/10.6061/clinics/2012(06)...
did not find a significant association between continuous VO2peak values and mortality risk2323. Kohl LM, Signori LU, Ribeiro RA, Silva AM, Moreira PR, Dipp T, et al. Prognostic value of the six-minute walk test in end-stage renal disease life expectancy: a prospective cohort study. Clinics (São Paulo). 2012;67(6):581–6. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.6061/clinics/2012(06)06. PubMed PMID: 22760895.
https://doi.org/10.6061/clinics/2012(06)...
. We believe that the lack of association may be due to the small sample size, which was also discussed by Kohl et al. as the main hypothesis. Cohort observational studies evaluating all-cause mortality may need larger sample sizes to achieve enough power in the statistical analysis, which may reduce the heterogeneity in the findings. Therefore, there is still a need for studies with a larger cohort size about the mortality risk and CRF.

In our analysis, there was a significantly higher prevalence of elderly and smoking habits in the severely low CRF group. Previous studies show that CRF may be influenced by age77. Imboden MT, Harber MP, Whaley MH, Finch WH, Bishop DL, Fleenor BS, et al. The association between the change in directly measured cardiorespiratory fitness across time and mortality risk. Prog Cardiovasc Dis. 2019;62(2):157–62. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pcad.2018.12.003. PubMed PMID: 30543812.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pcad.2018.12.0...
,2525. Peterman JE, Arena R, Myers J, Marzolini S, Ades PA, Savage PD, et al. Reference standards for cardiorespiratory fitness by cardiovascular disease category and testing modality: data from FRIEND. J Am Heart Assoc. 2021;10(22):e022336. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1161/JAHA.121.022336. PubMed PMID: 34747182.
https://doi.org/10.1161/JAHA.121.022336...
,2626. Ross R, Blair SN, Arena R, Church TS, Després JP, Franklin BA, et al. Importance of assessing cardiorespiratory fitness in clinical practice: a case for fitness as a clinical vital sign: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2016;134(24):e653–99. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1161/CIR.0000000000000461. PubMed PMID: 27881567.
https://doi.org/10.1161/CIR.000000000000...
. According to Imboden e al.77. Imboden MT, Harber MP, Whaley MH, Finch WH, Bishop DL, Fleenor BS, et al. The association between the change in directly measured cardiorespiratory fitness across time and mortality risk. Prog Cardiovasc Dis. 2019;62(2):157–62. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pcad.2018.12.003. PubMed PMID: 30543812.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pcad.2018.12.0...
, CRF declines at about 3.5 mL∙kg−1∙min−1 (1-MET) per decade of age in healthy individuals. In addition, the pieces of evidence in smoking individuals were not enough to establish a relationship or causation between smoking and CRF2727. Sengbusch JR, Tiernan DL, Tamulevicius N, Martinasek MP. The impact of smoking on maximum oxygen uptake. Respir Care. 2021;66(5):857–61. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.4187/respcare.08406. PubMed PMID: 33593934.
https://doi.org/10.4187/respcare.08406...
. However, it is known that the carbon monoxide from tobacco binds to red blood cells and reduces oxygen diffusion, which in the long-term may negatively impact CRF2727. Sengbusch JR, Tiernan DL, Tamulevicius N, Martinasek MP. The impact of smoking on maximum oxygen uptake. Respir Care. 2021;66(5):857–61. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.4187/respcare.08406. PubMed PMID: 33593934.
https://doi.org/10.4187/respcare.08406...
.

Our study did not find significant results in continuous VO2peak values and all-cause mortality risk. However, previous studies have demonstrated that higher CRF levels was associated with lower mortality risk, mainly in clinical populations55. Sietsema KE, Amato A, Adler SG, Brass EP. Exercise capacity as a predictor of survival among ambulatory patients with end-stage renal disease. Kidney Int. 2004;65(2):719–24. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1523-1755.2004.00411.x. PubMed PMID: 14717947.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1523-1755.2004...
,66. Mandsager K, Harb S, Cremer P, Phelan D, Nissen SE, Jaber W. Association of cardiorespiratory fitness with long-term mortality among adults undergoing exercise treadmill testing. JAMA Netw Open. 2018;1(6):e183605. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2018.3605. PubMed PMID: 30646252.
https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen....
,2020. Ezzatvar Y, Izquierdo M, Núñez J, Calatayud J, Ramírez-Vélez R, García-Hermoso A. Cardiorespiratory fitness measured with cardiopulmonary exercise testing and mortality in patients with cardiovascular disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Sport Health Sci. 2021;10(6):609–19. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jshs.2021.06.004. PubMed PMID: 34198003.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jshs.2021.06.0...
,2626. Ross R, Blair SN, Arena R, Church TS, Després JP, Franklin BA, et al. Importance of assessing cardiorespiratory fitness in clinical practice: a case for fitness as a clinical vital sign: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2016;134(24):e653–99. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1161/CIR.0000000000000461. PubMed PMID: 27881567.
https://doi.org/10.1161/CIR.000000000000...
. Therefore, improvements in CRF in patients on HD may protective factor not only for mortality risk but also for comorbidities, such as cardiovascular diseases2020. Ezzatvar Y, Izquierdo M, Núñez J, Calatayud J, Ramírez-Vélez R, García-Hermoso A. Cardiorespiratory fitness measured with cardiopulmonary exercise testing and mortality in patients with cardiovascular disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Sport Health Sci. 2021;10(6):609–19. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jshs.2021.06.004. PubMed PMID: 34198003.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jshs.2021.06.0...
. Our research group has been studying the effects of exercise on CRF and showed that combined exercise (i.e., aerobic and resistance) is beneficial in improving CRF in patients receiving HD2828. Andrade FP, Borba GC, Silva KC, Ferreira TS, Oliveira SG, Antunes VVH, et al. Intradialytic periodized exercise improves cardiopulmonary fitness and respiratory function: a randomized controlled trial. Semin Dial. 2022;35(2):181–9. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/sdi.13020. PubMed PMID: 34536050.
https://doi.org/10.1111/sdi.13020...
,2929. Andrade FP, Rezende PS, Ferreira TS, Borba GC, Müller AM, Rovedder PME. Effects of intradialytic exercise on cardiopulmonary capacity in chronic kidney disease: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. Sci Rep. 2019;9(1):18470. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-54953-x. PubMed PMID: 31804617.
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-54953...
. In addition, as also recognized by Pella et al.3030. Pella E, Boutou A, Boulmpou A, Papadopoulos CE, Papagianni A, Sarafidis P. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing in patients with end-stage kidney disease: principles, methodology and clinical applications of the optimal tool for exercise tolerance evaluation. Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2022;37(12):2335-50. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ndt/gfab150. PubMed PMID: 33823012.
https://doi.org/10.1093/ndt/gfab150...
, the importance of a periodic evaluation of the maximum physical effort in this population must be recognized as a wide spectrum of health, as it is already routinely performed in other clinical populations (e.g., cardiac and chronic pulmonary patients).

Yet, our study has some limitations concerning sample selection, as participants were screened for a randomized clinical trial (n = 39) and only stable patients were included. The low power to detect mortality occurrence ratio in patients with severely low CRF may have been caused by our small sample size. Although all patients used beta-blocker medications and were instructed to maintain their routine medications (beta-blockers and vasodilators), we did not collect dosage or the active pharmaceutical ingredient or the use of vasodilators. Finally, we also did not collect the patients’ blood biochemistry and comorbidities beyond those related to CKD cause.

Conclusion

We may conclude that severely low CRF and VO2peak values were not associated with all-cause mortality in patients receiving HD. Although a severely low CRF prevailed in our sample, larger cohort studies are needed to establish strong conclusions on its association with all-cause mortality.

Acknowledgments

We appreciate, firstly, all patients who participated in this study, besides the researchers who contributed to the data collection and to the realization of this research: Patrícia de Souza Rezende, Heloíse Benvenutti, Gabrielle Costa Borba, Kacylen Costa da Silva, Tatiane Ferreira, Samantha Gonçalves de Oliveira, Verônica Verleine Hörbe Antunes, Francisco Veríssimo Veronese, Selma Bolacel, Maria Conceição da Costa Proença and her nurse staff. In addition, we appreciate the help all employees of the Division of Nephrology of Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), and the Instituto de Doenças Renais (IDR). We also appreciate the funding organizations Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) and Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre - Research Incentive Fund (FIPE).

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Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    21 July 2023
  • Date of issue
    Jan-Mar 2024

History

  • Received
    11 Aug 2022
  • Accepted
    12 May 2023
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