Cross-Sectional Study Of Somatic And Anxiety Symptoms In Relation To Physical Activity Among Chronic Kidney Disease Patients On Maintenance Haemodialysis

Abstract

Introduction: Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) undergoing maintenance haemodialysis (MHD) frequently experience anxiety and somatic symptoms, which may be influenced by patterns of physical activity. Aim: To evaluate the associations between physical activity intensity and psychological symptom burden (somatic and anxiety) in MHD patients.

Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital in Pondicherry, India. Sixty adults receiving thrice-weekly MHD completed the Hamilton Anxiety Rating scale (HAM-A), the Somatic Symptom Scale-8 (SSS-8) and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Data were analysed using SPSS, group differences were assessed by one-way ANOVA with statistically significant set at p<0.005.

Results: Participants had a mean age of 44.15±10.41 years, and 53.3% were males. Vigorous activity was reported by 81.2% of patients with mild anxiety and by none of those with severe anxiety (p 0.007). Patients with high and very high somatic symptom burdens reported no days of vigorous activity compared with those with low burdens (p <0.001). Moderate activity was inversely related to somatic symptoms (p 0.028) but was not significantly associated with anxiety. Walking frequency differed by anxiety severity (p 0.032) but did not vary across somatic symptom levels (p 0.374).

Conclusion: Vigorous physical activity was inversely associated with anxiety and somatic symptoms in MHD patients, supporting Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative (KDOQI) recommendations and advocating tailored, comprehensive intradialytic exercise programmes to enhance future health outcomes.