Individuals with chronic kidney disease in hemodialysis have a high risk of falls. Additionally, these individuals present high sedentary time. The relation between sedentary behavior and the risk of falls needs to be investigated for individuals on hemodialysis.

The primary aim of this study was to verify the association between sedentary behavior and the risk of falls in individuals on hemodialysis. The secondary aims were to identify the incidence of falls and to compare the sedentary behavior between fallers (at least one recording of falls) and nonfallers (without recording of falls).

This 12-month prospective study included individuals in regular hemodialysis. Sociodemographic, clinical, and laboratory data were recorded from an interview. Sedentary behavior was evaluated by the sedentary time recorded on dialysis and nondialysis days using a triaxial accelerometer (wGT3X-BT, ActiGraph). The accelerometer was positioned on the individuals’ dominant waist, and they were instructed to wear it for eight consecutive days during waking hours. After the initial assessment, the occurrence of falls was monitored monthly for 12 months according to the fall definition as an unexpected event in which the individual came to rest on the ground, floor, or lower level. A descriptive analysis was conducted and comparisons between fallers and nonfallers were made by Student T-test. Unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression models investigated the association between sedentary time and the risk of falls, with falls as the dependent variable. A p-value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

This study included 96 individuals (59.3 ± 12.3 years old, 57.3% male). The incidence of falls was 29.2%. Fallers presented lower sedentary time on nondialysis days than nonfallers did (504.9 ± 136.7 vs. 580.9 ± 120.0 minutes per day, p = 0.012). In the unadjusted logistic regression analysis, sedentary time on nondialysis days was directly associated with risk of falls [OR: 1.005 (1.001 to 1.009); p = 0.016]. After adjustment for potential confounders, including age, gender, time on hemodialysis, body mass index, cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, sedentary time on nondialysis days remained associated with risk of falls [OR: 1.005 (1.000 to 1.009) p = 0.037].

Higher sedentary behavior on nondialysis days increased the risk of falls for individuals on hemodialysis.

The assessment of sedentary behavior can be used to identify individuals on hemodialysis with higher risk of falls and to contribute for the development of preventive strategies.