Changes in Physical Activity, Physical Function, and Depressive Symptoms Associated With the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic in Japanese Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis

ABSTRACT

Background: There are concerns about the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on physical and mental health. This study aimed to investigate changes in physical activity, physical function, and depressive symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japanese hemodialysis patients. Method(s) This retrospective longitudinal study included 159 clinically stable outpatients (mean age, 66.8+/-10.9 years;men, 62.2%;median hemodialysis vintage, 8 years) who underwent maintenance hemodialysis at two Japanese dialysis centers between April 2019 and March 2021. Participants' physical activity (steps taken per non-dialysis day), physical function (walking speed and leg strength), and depressive symptoms (Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression [CES-D] score) before and during the COVID-19 pandemic were compared. Result(s) The steps on non-dialysis day was significantly lower during than before the COVID-19 pandemic (P < 0.01). On the other hand, there were no significant differences in walking speed, leg strength, and CES-D score before and during the COVID-19 pandemic (Figure). Conclusion(s) Although a decline in physical activity during the COVID-19 pandemic was not prevented, no negative impacts of declining physical activity on physical function and depressive symptoms were observed. This is likely because we have implemented a long-term disease management program, such as regularly assessing the physical function and mental status of the patients. Our findings may provide insight into disease management in hemodialysis patients after the COVID-19 pandemic.