Maintenance phase of a physical activity intervention in older kidney transplant recipients: A 12-month follow-up.

This was a pilot follow-up and the authors state it was not powered to detect effectiveness, so the findings are feasibility signals rather than proof of benefit. The study was single-site and used convenience sampling, so the participants may not represent all older kidney transplant recipients. Participants had to be able to walk without aids, speak English, and use a smartphone, so results may not apply to more frail or non-English-speaking recipients. Some participants were lost before the final visit, and the reasons for non-adherence were not examined. The study did not collect comorbidities or medications, which could have affected blood pressure outcomes. Only steps were measured, not minutes of physical activity. Health outcomes did not differ between groups, so within-group changes cannot be attributed to the intervention.

The authors declared no conflicts of interest. The supplied metadata indicates NIH extramural research support, but the article text does not include a funding statement.

Do not read the within-group blood pressure and heart rate improvements as evidence that the intervention worked better than control. The between-group differences were not significant, and the study was a pilot not powered for effectiveness. Because both groups received a Fitbit plus education or goal-setting support, no single component can be credited.