The present study investigated the sustained effect of exercise therapy discontinuation in patients under hemodialysis with low physical function. Seven subjects in the exercise group and eight in the control group who had low physical function (short physical performance battery; SPPB ≤ 9 points) were included in the study. The exercise group received 6 months of intradialytic exercise, followed by 6 months of observation. We assessed SPPB, grip strength, self‐efficacy (SE), and exercise habits in both the groups before and after 12 months. There were statistically significant improvements in SPPB (effect size, 0.58; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.13–3.55) and SE (effect size, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.25–7.57) in the exercise group relative to the control group. The exercise group displayed more exercise habits than the control group at 12 months. A 6‐month period of intradialytic exercise may contribute to the continuation of SPPB and SE after exercise discontinuation.

Management of presenteeism in the context of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is essential for disease management, ensuring the workforce’s availability, and reducing health-related costs. The purpose of this case study was to investigate presenteeism, physical function, and exercise habits in three working patients with CKD and discuss their effects. Case 1 was a 71-year-old male security guard; Case 2 was a 72-year-old male agricultural worker; and Case 3 was an 83-year-old male civil engineering employee. Presenteeism was measured using the work functioning impairment scale (WFun), and physical function was measured using grip strength, skeletal muscle mass index, 10 m walk test, short physical performance battery, and exercise habits. The WFun assessment showed that only Case 3 had moderate presenteeism, and the barrier to employment was fatigue. Each value of physical function was higher than the reference value, but Case 3 had the lowest physical function values. All three patients had no exercise habits and were in the interest stage of behavior change. This case report indicates the existence of workers with CKD who need care for presenteeism, even if they have no problems with physical function or activities of daily living. To ensure work productivity in workers with CKD, clinicians may need to evaluate presenteeism, physical function, and exercise habits in addition to popular treatment and care.

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Background and Aims Continuing participation in physical function assessment programs is a critical component of treatment for patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD). Maintaining physical function through participation in a physical function assessment program is important to prevent adverse events in the clinical field of nephrology. Several clinical practice guidelines recommend regular assessment of physical activity and physical function as part of routine care for patients receiving hemodialysis (HD). However, the factors related to patients’ continuation of a physical function assessment program while undergoing HD remain unknown. We aimed to investigate the predictors associated with dropout from a physical function assessment program among patients receiving outpatient HD. Method In 2016, Seirei Sakura Citizen Hospital initiated a physical function assessment program for patients receiving outpatient HD. This retrospective cohort study included 230 patients receiving HD who participated in the first physical function assessment program in 2016. Following the initial visit, all patients were invited to complete a physical function assessment once a year. We assessed self-efficacy (SE), short physical performance battery (SPPB), exercise habits, and hand grip and provided patients with appropriate feedback. These measures were performed before the hemodialysis session. Laboratory Data and dialysis status were also collected. Participants were tracked for three years after their first physical function assessment to determine their attendance rate. Patients were provided with four opportunities for participation, including the initial assessment. The program's participation rate was defined as the number of program sessions in which the patient actually participated and the percentage (%) of the four physical functioning assessment visits attended. Patients were then divided into a continuation group (> 50% participation, including the initial assessment) and a dropout group (≤ 50% participation, including the initial assessment). Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the continuation group to determine the predictors of dropout from the physical function assessment program. Ethical approval was provided by Seirei Sakura Citizen Hospital,and written informed consent. Results A total of 230 patients receiving outpatient HD were invited to participate in the study. Among these, 78 patients refused to participate, 45 participants died or changed clinic within three years of obtaining baseline measurements, and six patients had missing data. Therefore, the final analysis included 101 patients undergoing HD. The continuation and dropout groups included 43 and 58 patients, respectively. SE (continuation: 13.0 ± 4.3 points; dropout: 9.8 ± 4.8 points) and age (continuation: 65.7 ± 10.4 years; dropout: 61.2 ± 12.2 years) were significantly higher in the continuation group than in the dropout group (p = 0.001, p = 0.047, respectively). Multivariate logistic regression analyses indicated that only SE (OR: 1.192, 95% CI: 1.088–1.319) remained a significant predictor after adjustment (p < 0.05). Conclusion Our data demonstrate that exercise-related SE and age significantly influenced dropout from the physical function assessment program; in particular, SE was a strong predictor of dropout, possibly because the patients with high SE may have had positive feelings about exercise based on previous experience. The older patients may have had a smaller social circle and more time to spare and been more aware of their health and desires. There is a need to evaluate SE to prevent dropout from physical functioning assessment programs. Interventions designed to enhance exercise-related SE may improve program retention among patients with HD.