Physical Activity in Chronic Kidney Disease: a Plausible Approach to Vascular Calcification?

Abstract

Vascular calcification (VC) is a prominent feature that affects up to 40 to 80% of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) patients depending on the degree of renal impairment. Though etiology and pathogenesis of the different types of VC are far from being elucidated, it is conceivable that an imbalance between promoters and inhibitors represents the condition that triggers VC deposition and progression. In addition to traditional cardiovascular risk factors, several lines of evidence suggest that specific factors may affect the arterial system and prognosis in CKD. Over the last decade, a few pharmacological strategies aimed at controlling different selected risk factors for VC have been investigated yielding conflicting results. In light of the complicated interplay between inhibitors and promoters as well as the fact that VC represents the result of cumulative and prolonged exposure to multiple risk factors, a more comprehensive risk modification approach such as lifestyle modification or physical activity (PA) may represent a valid strategy to attenuate VC deposition and progression.We herein aim at reviewing the rationale and current evidence on the potential for lifestyle modification with a specific focus on PA as a cost-effective strategy for VC treatment.

The association of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and sedentary behaviour with abdominal aortic calcification

“…Several epidemiological studies have shown that AAC is associated with incident coronary heart disease [ 20 ], myocardial infarction [ 21 ] and stroke [ 22 ]. A more holistic risk mitigation approach, encompassing lifestyle modification or PA, may serve as a credible strategy for diminishing the deposition and advancement of VC [ 23 ]. Nonetheless, a substantial prospective study involving healthy populations revealed a counterintuitive finding: elevated levels of PA were linked to a heightened prevalence and accelerated progression of coronary artery calcium (CAC) [ 24 ].…”