Walking ‘can have significant health benefits for kidney disease patients’

People with kidney disease can significantly improve their health outcomes by taking regular walks, according to a new study.

Carried out by China Medical University Hospital in Taiwan, the research looked at 6,363 patients with later stages of chronic kidney disease. Subjects were an average of 70 years old and were followed for around 1.3 years.

It was found that those who walked regularly were more likely to have longer lifespans and a reduced risk of needing dialysis or a kidney transplant. The more they walked, the greater the benefit was shown to be.

This demonstrates that even a simple and low-intensity form of exercise can be good for the health of kidney disease sufferers.

Dr Che-Yi Chou at the China Medical University Hospital said: "A minimal amount of walking – just once a week for less than 30 minutes – appears to be beneficial, but more frequent and longer walking may provide a more beneficial effect."

It is estimated that about one in five men and one in four women between the ages of 65 and 74 has some degree of chronic kidney disease. It is more common among people people of south Asian origin and black people than the general population.