Kidney Week

Abstract: SA-PO1087

Physiologic Effects of Intradialytic Aerobic Exercise Assessed by Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing

Session Information

• Kidney Replacement Therapy and Care Delivery Innovations
  October 24, 2026 | Location: Exhibit Hall A, Convention Center
  Abstract Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Category: Dialysis

• 801 Dialysis: Hemodialysis and Frequent Dialysis

Authors

• Mercado Hernández, Yazmin Alejandra, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Medicas y Nutricion Salvador Zubiran, Mexico City, CDMX, Mexico

Yazmin Alejandra Mercado Hernández, MD

• Miranda, Jesus Edgar, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Medicas y Nutricion Salvador Zubiran, Mexico City, CDMX, Mexico

Jesus Edgar Miranda, MD

• Asuncion Tomas, Jessica Maribel, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Medicas y Nutricion Salvador Zubiran, Mexico City, CDMX, Mexico

Jessica Maribel Asuncion Tomas, LPN/VN, RN

• Ruvalcaba Cristerna, Luisa Svetlana, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Medicas y Nutricion Salvador Zubiran, Mexico City, CDMX, Mexico

Luisa Svetlana Ruvalcaba Cristerna, DrMed

• Carreón Tapia, Daira Magdalena, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Medicas y Nutricion Salvador Zubiran, Mexico City, CDMX, Mexico

Daira Magdalena Carreón Tapia, MEd

• Vazquez Narvaez, Karina G., Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Medicas y Nutricion Salvador Zubiran, Mexico City, CDMX, Mexico

Karina G. Vazquez Narvaez, MD

• Del Toro-Cisneros, Noemi, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Medicas y Nutricion Salvador Zubiran, Mexico City, CDMX, Mexico

Noemi Del Toro-Cisneros, MD

• Rincon-Pedrero, Rodolfo, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Medicas y Nutricion Salvador Zubiran, Mexico City, CDMX, Mexico

Rodolfo Rincon-Pedrero, MD

• Vega, Olynka, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Medicas y Nutricion Salvador Zubiran, Mexico City, CDMX, Mexico

Olynka Vega, MD, MS

Background

Comprehensive physiologic evaluations of intradialytic exercise in hemodialysis (HD) patients remain limited. We evaluated the effects of a 6-month intradialytic aerobic exercise program using cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET), echocardiography, cognitive assessment, and quality-of-life measures.

Methods

We conducted a single-group quasi-experimental study in adult HD patients at a tertiary care hospital in Mexico City. Patients performed intradialytic aerobic exercise using a cycle ergometer during the first hour of HD, 30-60 minutes/session, three times per week for 6 months. Pre- and post-intervention assessments included: cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET), transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), quality of life using the Mexican version of the KDQOL-SF36, and cognitive evaluation using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA).

Results

Eighteen patients were included, 50% female, with a median age of 37 (30–48) years. The main causes of chronic kidney disease were unknown etiology (28%) and glomerulopathy (28%). Significant improvements were observed in cardiopulmonary performance parameters assessed by CPET, including peak oxygen consumption (VO2_peak) from 16.2 (10.2–20.4) to 18.6 (15.3–24.7) mL/kg/min (p=0.005), peak METs (METs_peak) from 4.6 (2.9–5.8) to 5.3 (4.4–7.0) (p=0.005), percentage of predicted maximal workload achieved from 48 (41–57) to 57 (46.7–75.2) % (p=0.005), and peak minute ventilation (VE_peak) from 42.9 (25.4–46.2) to 55.2 (33.2–63.4) L/min (p<0.001).
Regarding quality of life, vitality scores improved from 16 (14–19) to 19 (16–21) (p=0.032) as did cognitive function domain scores from 14 (11–17) to 16 (13–18) (p=0.043). No significant changes were observed in TTE parameters, MoCA scores, or dialysis adequacy.

Conclusion

Intradialytic aerobic exercise was associated with significant improvements in objectively measured cardiopulmonary functional capacity and patient-reported vitality in HD patients. CPET may represent a sensitive tool for evaluating physiologic responses to exercise interventions in this population.