Effects of the cluster-set method on symptoms of depression and quality of life in older hemodialysis subjects: a randomized controlled clinical trial

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with several disorders that compromise the physical, mental and social health. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of resistance training with cluster-set method (RT-CS) on quality of life (QoL) and depression symptoms in older subjects with CKD. The QoL was evaluated by the Short Form Health Survey 36 questionnaire, and depression by the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Sixty-eight subjects with CKD on maintenance hemodialysis (age: 57.55 ± 4.06 years) were selected and randomly distributed into a control group without RT (CG, n = 26); traditional RT group (RT, n = 26); and RT cluster-set group (RT-CS, n = 26) with 15 s pause every four repetitions. Subjects completed 24 wk of RT, three times a week, 1 h and 30 min before the hemodialysis session. It was found that both the RT and the RT-CS group improved QoL, while only RT-CS displayed reduced depression symptoms. The minimally clinically important difference revealed that more subjects from the RT-CS were responsive to decrease of depression and functional capacity. This highlights the importance of RT-CS as an intervention to mitigate the effects of low QoL and depression in older subjects with CKD.