Physical activity and fear of COVID-19 in patients on hemodialysis

OBJECTIVE To record levels of physical activity (PA) and fear of COVID-19 in patients with chronic kidney diseases undergoing hemodialysis. METHOD The study population consisted of 48 patients of a hemodialysis center ( "Euro-medica Kianous-Stavros ") in Thessaloniki, Greece. Four questionnaires were voluntarily completed by patients: (a) Demographic data (age, gender, weight, height) and information about their working routine (hours per week, years of surgery) questionnaire, (b) Fear of COVID-19 Scale, (c) International Physical Activity Questionnaire and (d) Hospital and Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). The experimental design of this study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the University of Patras. RESULTS A total of 48 patients (33 women, 15 men; mean age: 71.1 +/- 14.33 years) participated in the present cross-sectional study. The average duration of hemodialysis was 4.28 +/- 3.88 years. Most patients reported low levels of PA (n=29; 60.4%) and moderate levels of fear of COVID-19 (19.31 +/- 4.48). According to the results of the correlation analysis, a strong correlation between the PA and age (r=0.6; p <= 0.0001) and medium correlation between PA and fear of coronavirus (r=0.42; <= 0.05) was found. CONCLUSIONS The PA of hemodialyzed patients was reduced during the COVID-19 pandemic. Interventions for improving of PA in those patients is essential.