The Relation between Physical Activity, Fatigue and Psychological Distress in Hemodialysis Patients

Back ground: Evaluating and encouraging physical activity is essential for hemodialysis patients to improve their health and well-being. Aim: Identify the relation between physical activity, fatigue and psychological distress in patients receiving hemodialysis. Research design: A descriptive research design. Setting: Hemodialysis Unit at Assiut University Hospital. Sample: 200 adult patients; ages ranged from 20-65 years old from both sex. Tools: Demographic and medical characteristics, Charlson Comorbidity Index, International Physical Activity Questionnaire, Brief Fatigue Inventory-Taiwan version and Depression Anxiety Stress Scales. Results: Physical activity showed a significant negative correlation with depression (r = -.173-, p <0.05), anxiety (r = -.186-, p< 0.01), stress (r = -.143-, p<0.05), and fatigue (r =-.228), p < 0.01). Predictors of physical activity levels as Fatigue demonstrated the strongest negative association (β = –0.233, p < 0.001), Depression also showed a significant negative effect (β = –0.177, p < 0.01), as did anxiety (β = –0.190, p = 0.008) and stress (β = –0.14, p = 0.043). Risk factors for depression, anxiety, and stress included younger age (20–35 years) with statistically significant differences (p=0.011, p=0.010, and p=0.016, respectively), longer duration of hemodialysis (p < 0.000), having comorbidities (p < 0.000). Conclusion: Physical activity significantly reduces levels of fatigue, depression, anxiety and stress in hemodialysis patients. Recommendations: We suggested Healthcare professionals, especially nurses, need to design exercise regimens for hemodialysis patients to optimize the health benefits related to physical activity and reduce fatigue.