Photo Jan Nordén

Our research investigates the clinical consequences of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and the effects of exercise training, dialysis modality and parathyroidectomy. In a large randomized controlled exercise training study, RENEXC, we have investigated long-term effects of exercise training in patients with CKD 3-5. We have analysed the effects of 12 months of exercise training on physical function, body composition, vascular calcification and some indices of cardiovascular morbidity. We are analysing bone mineral density, self-reported healthrelated quality of life and the efficacy of the Borg scale on exercise prescription and monitoring. We are also studying survival in patients who participated in exercise training compared with a matched cohort from the Swedish Renal Registry.

We are currently participating in two international multi-centre trials. The EUSUREX trial, which is a questionnaire based survey examining barriers to implementing exercise traning in patients with CKD in Europe. The GoodRENal trial, which is a multi-centre EU ERASMUS+ supported project, aiming to create a virtual reality digital multimodal platform to implement exercise training, nutritional counselling, psychological and cognitive support to patients during hemodialysis.

In journal and registry studies (The Swedish Renal Registry) we have investigated the effects of dialysis modality: homehemodialysis compared with institutional hemodialys and peritoneal dialysis, respectively. We are investigating assisted peritoneal dialysis compared with institutional hemodialysis on morbidity and mortality.

In other registry studies, in cooperation with endocrine surgeon associate professor Martin Almquist, we have investigated the effects of parathyroidectomy on survival and morbidity in dialysis and renal transplant patients.

We hope to further the understanding of the mechanisms responsible for cardiovascular morbidity, mortality and reduced physical function in CKD. We have a multiprofessional and multidisciplinary approach both in the clinic and in our research. Thus enabling us to work at several levels and study epidemiology, treatment and prevention.