Wearable device improves daily step counts in hemodialysis patients with ESKD

The results of a study published in the American Journal of Kidney Diseases demonstrates that a wearable activity tracker plus structured feedback intervention can lead to greater daily step counts in hemodialysis patients with ESKD

The team of Rakesh Malhotra investigated the feasibility and effectiveness of a 12-week intervention using a wearable activity tracker (Fitbit®) and structured feedback coaching versus a wearable activity tracker alone in improving physical activity levels in hemodialysis patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). In this randomized controlled trial, 55 participants were recruited and randomly assigned to either the wearable activity tracker plus structured feedback intervention or the wearable activity tracker alone. The outcome measured was step count, and the main parameter of interest was the absolute change in daily step count, averaged per week, from baseline to completion of the 12-week intervention.

Of the 55 participants, 46 completed the 12-week intervention, with 23 participants in each arm. The study found that the structured feedback arm had a larger change in daily step count at 12 weeks relative to the wearable activity tracker alone arm. Specifically, the structured feedback intervention group had an increase in daily step count of 920 steps, while the wearable activity tracker alone group had an increase of only 281 steps. The between-group difference was a 639 step increase in favor of the structured feedback intervention group, which was statistically significant.

The study suggests that the intervention has the potential to improve physical activity levels in this population, which is important given the strong association between physical inactivity and morbidity and mortality in this patient group. Future studies are needed to determine the longer-term sustainability of the intervention and the potential health benefits for hemodialysis patients.

Source:

Malhotra, R., Rahimi, S., Agarwal, U., Katz, R., Kumar, U., Garimella, P. S., Gupta, V., Chopra, T., Kotanko, P., Ikizler, T. A., Larsen, B., Cadmus-Bertram, L., & Ix, J. H. (2023). The Impact of a Wearable Activity Tracker and Structured Feedback Program on Physical Activity in Hemodialysis Patients: The Step4Life Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. In American Journal of Kidney Diseases. Elsevier BV. https://doi.org/10.1053/j.ajkd.2022.12.011