Physical function assessment in chronic kidney disease

Abstract

Measures of physical function have been shown to be related to clinically important outcomes (survival, morbidity and quality of life [QoL]) in patients receiving dialysis-based renal replacement therapy. Given the prognostic potential of these factors, it is recommended that their measurement should form part of the routine assessment (and management) of patients receiving maintenance dialysis therapy. The available literature suggests that, if good practice is followed, exercise tolerance and functional capacity assessment of the patient with chronic kidney disease (CKD) (stages 3–5) is safe, feasible and may be clinically useful.