Pre-emptive Rehabilitation to Prevent Dialysis-associated Morbidity
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Pre-emptive rehabilitation to prevent dialysis associated morbidity (PREHAB-2): A study to assess the impact of exercise, nutritional intervention and multidisciplinary education upon outcomes in patients approaching and commencing dialysis
IRAS ID
230131
Contact name
Fiona Willingham
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Derby Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 5 months, 31 days
Research summary
Chronic kidney disease and dialysis often lead to frequent hospital admissions, and are associated with increased lethargy, muscle wasting, reduced independence and poorer quality of life. Previous work from our unit shows that increased exercise, improved nutrition, and education, before patients start dialysis, can help maintain independence, and improve health on starting dialysis.
This project aims to investigate whether regular exercise, good nutrition, and education, commencing before dialysis starts and continuing for the first 6 months of dialysis, leads to greater improvements in exercise ability, independence, and quality of life, than usual care.
Patients expected to start dialysis within the next 12 months will be invited to take part. Patients who agree to take part will be asked to sign a consent form.
All participants attend an initial assessment appointment, for exercise tests to measure muscle function and exercise ability, scans to measure muscle mass, and to complete questionnaires to assess appetite and quality of life.
Participants are then randomly allocated to the treatment group or usual care group. The treatment group involves a 10-week exercise and education programme. Each session lasts for 2 hours, with an hour of exercise, followed by an education session, which aims to help participants to cope better with dialysis. Participants will be given an individual exercise and care plan to follow.
The exercise and education sessions continue once per month until starting dialysis, and for the first 6 months of dialysis.
Participants in the usual care group continue with usual clinic appointments and dialysis.
The assessments done at the beginning of the study are repeated at several timepoints throughout the study, before and after starting dialysis. By comparing results from these assessments between the groups, we can assess if this treatment is superior to usual care in maintaining independence and quality of life in patients starting dialysis.
REC name
East Midlands - Derby Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/EM/0290
Date of REC Opinion
4 Oct 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion