Aerobic or Resistance Training and Pulse Wave Velocity in Kidney Transplant Recipients: A 12-Week Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial (the Exercise in Renal Transplant [ExeRT] Trial).
Greenwood SA, Koufaki P, et al.American Journal Kidney Diseases 2015 Oct;66(4):689-98
Aims
To examine the potential effect of aerobic training or resistance training on vascular health and indexes of cardiovascular risk in kidney transplant recipients.
Interventions
Patients were randomly assigned to one of three groups of aerobic training, resistance training or usual care.
Participants
60 kidney transplantation patients less than 12 months posttransplantation aged > 18 years
Outcomes
The primary outcome measured was pulse wave velocity (PWV). Secondary outcomes were peak oxygen update(Vo2peak), isometric quadriceps force, sit-to-stand 60, waist circumference, venous blood, blood pressure, heart rate, quality of life and physical function.
Follow-up
12 weeks
CET Conclusions
This interesting pilot study investigated the role of exercise training (either aerobic or resistance training) to standard care in renal transplant recipients. The authors demonstrate improvements in pulse-wave velocity and peak VO2 in both exercise groups, as well as improved muscle force in the resistance group. There are some caveats – the sample size is small (20 patients per group) and drop-out rates from the exercise groups were high (35% in each). Nonetheless, the pilot findings are interesting and larger studies with longer follow-up are warranted to determine whether changes in these parameters translate to reductions in cardiovascular events and mortality in the renal transplant population.
Data analysis
Modified intention-to-treat analysis
Trial registration
ISRCTN registry - ISRCTN 43892586