Exercise and Physical Activity for People with CKD: A National Survey of Nephrologist Practice Patterns in Saudi Arabia

Background: A variety of health benefits are associated with physical activity in individuals with chronic kidney disease. The aim of this study was to examine nephrologist practice patterns concerning exercise and physical activity (PA) in CKD patients. Methods: This is an online cross-sectional survey study that was conducted between June 2023 and May 2024 in Saudi Arabia. Nephrology fellow, specialists, and consultants in Saudi Arabia formed the study population. Results: A total of 96 physicians participated in this study. Only 9.4% of renal units have exercise programs available to patients. These programs are available mainly for advanced CKD (pre-dialysis) and in-center hemodialysis patients. The major barriers to initiating or expanding exercise programs at their centers are a lack of motivation/interest from front-line staff (55.2%), lack of interest from management (48.3%), and no funding (47.1). Around 56.2% of respondents ask patients about their level of physical activity. Additionally, 64.6% give patients specific advice on how to increase their level of physical activity. For the types of exercise most beneficial for people with CKD, 90.6% recommend walking. Around 34.4% of respondents believe that physiotherapists should take ownership in providing exercise counselling and resources to people with CKD. The majority agreed or strongly agreed to recommend exercise in patients with CKD (76.0%). The mean attitude score for the study participants was 32.1 (SD: 3.9) out of 40 (equal to 80.3%); which demonstrates positive attitude towards recommending exercise for CKD patients. Conclusion: This study highlights a critical gap in the availability of exercise programs for CKD patients. Key barriers include lack of interest by staff and management and funding issues. In spite of these barriers, a majority of physicians acknowledge the role of exercise in CKD patients and advice regarding physical activity on a frequent basis. It suggests recommendations in order to expand the programs, including increasing staff motivation, securing management support, and getting funding for exercise programs and identifying the role of physiotherapists in exercise counselling for CKD patients.