Higher Levels of Physical Activity Are Associated With a Lower Risk of Abnormal Glucose Tolerance in Renal Transplant Recipients

Objective

We investigated and compared diets and physical activity levels of renal transplant recipients (RTRs) with normal glucose tolerance (NGT) and abnormal glucose tolerance (AGT), and we identified clinical risk factors for AGT.

Design

This study was cross-sectional and observational.

Setting

This study took place in a hospital's renal outpatient department.

Patients

Patients included adult RTRs with NGT and AGT.

Main Outcome Measure

All patients were assessed regarding age, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist/hip ratio (WHR), percent body fat (measured using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry), dietary intake (3-day diet diary), and physical activity (PA) levels (total minutes/week, using the Physical Activity Statewide Questionnaire).

Results

The RTRs with AGT (n = 47) were significantly more obese (P = .04) and more centrally obese (P = .05) than RTRs with NGT (n = 35). The mean self-reported dietary macronutrient and energy intake was not significantly different between groups. However, the total amount of PA (median) was significantly lower in RTRs with AGT versus RTRs with NGT (255 [median, range 0 to 1940] versus 580 [median, 75 to 1095] minutes/week, respectively, P = .03), particularly in female RTRs (P = .007). After logistic regression analysis, total PA was identified as an independent predictor of AGT in all RTRs (β = 0.940, R² = 0.090, P = .04). Percent body fat according to dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry was inversely associated with a high level of PA (>300 minutes/week) (β = 0.906, R² = 0.211, P = .003).

Conclusions

A higher amount of PA is associated with a lower risk of AGT in RTRs (particularly in females). An emphasis on increasing PA should be encouraged for all RTRs.