Previous Article in Journal
Effectiveness of the Mindful Motherhood Support Program on Quality of Life Among Palestinian Mothers of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Quasi-Experimental Study
 
 
Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
Journals
IJERPH
Volume 23
Issue 1
10.3390/ijerph23010015
ijerph-logo
Submit to this Journal Review for this Journal Propose a Special Issue
► Article Menu

Article Menu

share Share announcement Help format_quote Cite
first_page
settings
Order Article Reprints
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Article

Falls, Frailty and Quality of Life Among Individuals on a Regular Haemodialysis Programme: Implications for Rehabilitation Nursing

by
Marisa Patrícia de Almeida Martins
1,
Ana da Conceição Alves Faria
2,
Carla Gomes da Rocha
3,
Elaine Forte
4,
Letícia de Lima Trindade
5,
Samuel Spiegelberg Zuge
5,
Maria Narcisa da Costa Gonçalves
6 and
Olga Maria Pimenta Lopes Ribeiro
6,7,*
1
Porto Hemodialysis Unit, 4200-227 Porto, Portugal
2
Department of Nursing, Santa Maria Health School, 4049-024 Porto, Portugal
3
Department of Nursing, School of Health Sciences, HES-SO Valais-Wallis, 1950 Sion, Switzerland
4
Department of Nursing, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis 88053-750, Santa Catarina, Brazil
5
Department of Nursing, Regional Community University of Chapecó (Unochapecó), Chapecó 89809-900, Santa Catarina, Brazil
6
Department of Nursing, Nursing School of Porto, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal
7
RISE-Health, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2026, 23(1), 15; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph23010015 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 17 November 2025 / Revised: 13 December 2025 / Accepted: 18 December 2025 / Published: 20 December 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue How Much Exercise Is Enough? The Role of Physical Activity or Exercise in the Prevention and Treatment of Noncommunicable Diseases)
Versions Notes

Abstract

Background: Chronic kidney disease and haemodialysis treatment are associated with physiological and functional alterations that compromise postural stability, favouring frailty and the risk of falls. These conditions directly affect the quality of life and autonomy of people undergoing haemodialysis, constituting an important challenge for rehabilitation nursing. In this sense, the aim of this study was to analyse the relationship between falls, frailty and quality of life in people with chronic kidney disease on a regular haemodialysis programme, identifying implications for rehabilitation nursing care. Methods: This was a quantitative, observational and cross-sectional study conducted with 62 participants from a haemodialysis unit in northern Portugal. The Tilburg Frailty Indicator and the Kidney Disease Quality of Life Instrument (KDQOL-SF™ 1.3) were applied. Statistical analysis used parametric and non-parametric tests, considering a significance level of p < 0.05. Results: The prevalence of falls in the year preceding the data collection was 32.2%, and the prevalence of frailty was 40.3%. A significant association was found between frailty and falls (p = 0.038) and between sex and falls (p = 0.002). The dimensions Symptoms/problems and Effects of kidney disease on daily life showed lower scores among participants with falls (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Frailty and poorer illness perception were associated with the occurrence of falls and with lower quality of life. Comprehensive assessment and the implementation of rehabilitation programmes led by specialist nurses in rehabilitation nursing are essential to promote functionality, safety and autonomy in people undergoing haemodialysis.
Keywords: haemodialysis; falls; frailty; quality of life; rehabilitation nursing haemodialysis; falls; frailty; quality of life; rehabilitation nursing

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Martins, M.P.d.A.; Faria, A.d.C.A.; Gomes da Rocha, C.; Forte, E.; Trindade, L.d.L.; Zuge, S.S.; Gonçalves, M.N.d.C.; Ribeiro, O.M.P.L. Falls, Frailty and Quality of Life Among Individuals on a Regular Haemodialysis Programme: Implications for Rehabilitation Nursing. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2026, 23, 15. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph23010015

AMA Style

Martins MPdA, Faria AdCA, Gomes da Rocha C, Forte E, Trindade LdL, Zuge SS, Gonçalves MNdC, Ribeiro OMPL. Falls, Frailty and Quality of Life Among Individuals on a Regular Haemodialysis Programme: Implications for Rehabilitation Nursing. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2026; 23(1):15. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph23010015

Chicago/Turabian Style

Martins, Marisa Patrícia de Almeida, Ana da Conceição Alves Faria, Carla Gomes da Rocha, Elaine Forte, Letícia de Lima Trindade, Samuel Spiegelberg Zuge, Maria Narcisa da Costa Gonçalves, and Olga Maria Pimenta Lopes Ribeiro. 2026. "Falls, Frailty and Quality of Life Among Individuals on a Regular Haemodialysis Programme: Implications for Rehabilitation Nursing" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 23, no. 1: 15. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph23010015

APA Style

Martins, M. P. d. A., Faria, A. d. C. A., Gomes da Rocha, C., Forte, E., Trindade, L. d. L., Zuge, S. S., Gonçalves, M. N. d. C., & Ribeiro, O. M. P. L. (2026). Falls, Frailty and Quality of Life Among Individuals on a Regular Haemodialysis Programme: Implications for Rehabilitation Nursing. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 23(1), 15. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph23010015

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

Article Metrics

Article metric data becomes available approximately 24 hours after publication online.
Back to TopTop