Systematic review and meta-analysis of health coaching interventions in chronic kidney disease patients
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Key Takeaway
Consider health coaching for CKD patients, noting small effect sizes and uncertain clinical relevance.
This systematic review and meta-analysis examined the impact of health coaching interventions on patients with chronic kidney disease. The pooled analysis included 738 participants across multiple studies. The authors assessed a range of outcomes including body weight, blood pressure, and various quality of life domains.
The meta-analysis found statistically significant reductions in body weight with a mean difference of -1.5 (95% CI: -1.62, -1.38). Systolic blood pressure also showed a statistically significant reduction with a mean difference of -3.04 (95% CI: -3.54, -2.54). Physical and mental quality of life scores improved with standardized mean differences of 1.06 (95% CI: 0.29, 1.82) and 1.03 (95% CI: 0.11, 1.95), respectively.
However, no significant effects were observed for interdialytic weight gain, diastolic blood pressure, overall quality of life, depression, or self-efficacy. The authors note that observed effect sizes were small and did not consistently reach clinically meaningful thresholds. Furthermore, the relevance of these findings to CKD populations remains uncertain. Safety data and adverse events were not reported in the source material.
The authors conclude that incorporating health coaching interventions into comprehensive care for patients with CKD is both necessary and promising, despite the current limitations in effect magnitude and generalizability.
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View Original Abstract ↓
PURPOSE: Health coaching interventions have been shown to be effective in some chronic diseases but remain unclear in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). This review aimed to assess the effectiveness of health coaching interventions in patients with CKD.
METHODS: A systematic search of PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, APA PsycINFO, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, and ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global was conducted from inception to March 17, 2025. Review Manager 5.3 and Stata 15.1 software were used to perform the meta-analysis.
RESULTS: A total of 8 randomized controlled trials involving 738 patients were included. Health coaching interventions could statistically significantly reduce body weight (MD: - 1.5; 95% CI: - 1.62, - 1.38), systolic blood pressure (MD: - 3.04; 95% CI: - 3.54, - 2.54), and improve the physical (SMD: 1.06; 95% CI: 0.29, 1.82) and mental (SMD: 1.03; 95% CI: 0.11, 1.95) components of quality of life. But they had no effects on interdialytic weight gain (MD: - 0.02; 95% CI: - 0.32, 0.28), diastolic blood pressure (MD: - 1.79; 95% CI: - 4.19, 0.61), overall quality of life (SMD: 0.38; 95% CI: - 0.15, 0.91), depression (SMD: - 0.13; 95% CI: - 0.45, 0.19), and self-efficacy (SMD: 1.40; 95% CI: - 0.27, 3.07).
CONCLUSION: Health coaching interventions could reduce body weight and systolic blood pressure while improving physical and mental quality of life for patients with CKD. However, the observed effect sizes were small and did not consistently reach clinically meaningful thresholds, and their relevance to CKD populations remains uncertain. Nonetheless, incorporating these interventions into the comprehensive care of patients with CKD is both necessary and promising. Future high-quality studies are encouraged to explore further insights into health coaching interventions for patients with CKD.
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