Abstract: Objective To investigate the effect of Tai Chi exercise on the improvement of anxiety, depression and sleep quality in hemodialysis patients. Methods This was a non- randomized and concurrent control trial. A total of 40 patients willing to take part in this study were enrolled as the intervention group. At the same time, 40 patients with age and body mass index matched to those in intervention group were selected as the control group. Patients in the two groups received regular hemodialysis and nursing. Tai Chi training provided by the researchers was conducted in the intervention group, but not in the control group. The anxiety
and depression scores and sleep quality were measured after 6 months. Results Seventy-one patients (in intervention group 6 cases dropped out; in control group 3 cases dropped out) completed this study. After 6 months, the intervention group had lower scores of self- rating anxiety scale (SAS) (46.36±8.21 vs. 50.49± 9.88, t=3.848, P=0.001), self-rating depression scale (SDS) (41.39±9.04 vs. 51.39±10.25, t=4.862, P=0.001), Pittsburgh sleep quality index (7.15±4.27 vs. 9.29±4.02, t=2.194, P=0.032), sleep continuity (0.91±0.83 vs. 1.39±1.08, t=2.110, P=0.038), and sleep efficiency (0.71±0.94 vs. 1.53±1.16, t=3.281, P=0.002), as compared with those in the control group. Conclusion Tai Chi exercise can improve the state of anxiety and depression and sleep quality in hemodialysis patients. This exercise mode can be used in hemodialysis patients and can be carried out widely.

Key words: hemodialysis, Tai chi, Anxiety, Depression,  sleep quality