Grant: Project Grant

High blood pressure (BP) is twice as common in people with chronic kidney disease (CKD) as it is in those without kidney disease. High BP increases the risk of heart disease and is also one of the main reasons that kidney function worsens, increasing the risk of kidney failure. Medications can treat BP but are often ineffective, have side effects, and are costly. Regular exercise can lower BP but because of differences in the causes of high BP in people with CKD, it is unclear if exercise would work in this population. Consequently, exercise is not included in the routine care of people with CKD and sedentary behaviour is common. The role of exercise in CKD management is important to patients: a better understanding of the role of lifestyle interventions, such as exercise, in managing CKD is a top research priority. Therefore, the aim of this study is to test whether regular exercise can improve BP in people with moderate to severe CKD. We will measure other important outcomes, such as quality of life. We will also use this study to help design a larger study on whether exercise can slow the loss of kidney function. In this trial, we will assign 160 people with moderate to severe CKD to receive structured exercise along with their usual care or usual care alone (no exercise resources). The exercise program is 24-weeks long and includes supervised, hospital-based sessions and home exercises led by an exercise specialist. Our findings will be used to show that exercise can improve the care we deliver and will provide the basis for further studies looking at whether exercise can slow the worsening of kidney disease.