Association of postural balance and falls in adult patients receiving haemodialysis: A prospective cohort study.

Background: Static postural balance performance is often impaired in people receiving haemodialysis (HD) for the treatment of stage-5 chronic kidney disease (CKD-5). However, the question as to whether lower postural balance is associated with adverse clinical outcomes such as falls has not been addressed yet.

Research Question: We conducted a prospective cohort study to explore the association between static postural balance and falls in people receiving HD.

Minimum accelerometer wear-time for reliable estimates of physical activity and sedentary behaviour of people receiving haemodialysis.

Background: Low levels of physical activity are implicated in low life expectancies of people receiving maintenance haemodialysis. Accelerometers are increasingly being used to quantify activity behaviours of this population but guidance to quality-assure such data is lacking. The objective of this study was to provide data processing and reduction recommendations to ensure accelerometer-derived outcomes are sufficiently reliable for interpretative analysis.

The relative importance of frailty, physical and cardiovascular function as exercise-modifiable predictors of falls in haemodialysis patients: a prospective cohort study.

Background: Stage 5 chronic kidney disease (CKD-5) patients on haemodialysis (HD) are at high risk of accidental falls. Previous research has shown that frailty is one of the primary contributors to the increased risk of falling in this clinical population. However, HD patients often present with abnormalities of cardiovascular function such as baroreflex impairment and orthostatic dysregulation of blood pressure (BP) which may also be implicated in the aetiology of falling.

Baroreflex function, haemodynamic responses to an orthostatic challenge, and falls in haemodialysis patients.

Background: Stage 5 chronic kidney disease patients on haemodialysis (HD) often present with dizziness and pre-syncopal events as a result of the combined effect of HD therapy and cardiovascular disease. The dysregulation of blood pressure (BP) during orthostasis may be implicated in the aetiology of falls in these patients. Therefore, we explored the relationship between baroreflex function, the haemodynamic responses to a passive orthostatic challenge, and falls in HD patients.

Collection and determinants of patient reported outcome measures in haemodialysis patients in Scotland.

Background/introduction: Patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) can evaluate the quality of health in patients with established renal failure. There is limited experience of their use within national renal registries.

Aim: To describe the Scottish Renal Registry's (SRR) experience of collecting PROMS in the haemodialysis population and correlate PROMS to demographic and clinical parameters.