CHERISH Version 1.0
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A Combined Home-Based Exercise and Nutritional Approach to Improve Frailty Status in Kidney Transplant Recipients: A Randomised Controlled Feasibility Study
IRAS ID
301795
Contact name
Wing Lam Winnie Chan
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Birmingham
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
N/A, N/A
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 5 months, 21 days
Research summary
Kidney transplantation is the preferred treatment for many people with kidney failure as it restores their ability to eliminate body toxins, in addition to prolonging life and improving quality of life. Following transplants, most patients regain some but not all physical capacity. Indeed, some of them are “frail”.
Frailty is defined as having at least 3 of the following problems: exhaustion, poor muscle strength, low physical activity, slow walking pace, and weight loss. It occurs in >50% of people with kidney transplants, and accounts for recurrent hospitalisation and even death. Given the adverse impact, research to develop interventions to combat frailty is important in these patients.
Resistance training is a type of physical workout aimed to improve muscle strength. To date, resistance training alone has been found to improve day-to-day physical capacity, muscle strength, and quality of life in people with kidney transplants, but its effect on frailty, either alone or combined with other interventions, has not been investigated. Protein supplementation combined with resistance training has been shown to improve frailty status, physical function, and muscle strength and mass in healthy population. No studies have yet evaluated the effects of protein supplementation on the response to resistance training in people with kidney transplants.
This study evaluates the feasibility, effectiveness, and cost implications of implementing a home-based resistance exercise training programme with or without protein supplementation in people with kidney transplants. Forty participants will undergo equal randomisation to receiving resistance training alone or resistance training with protein supplementation, for 12 weeks. Feasibility, frailty and functional status, muscle strength, physiological and laboratory parameters, and patient-reported outcome measures, will be evaluated before and after the intervention. This study has the potential to introduce a holistic approach, combining the correct level of protein supplementation with achievable home-based exercises to combat frailty in kidney transplantation.
REC name
North East - Tyne & Wear South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
22/NE/0019
Date of REC Opinion
10 Mar 2022
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion