Quality of Life and Physical Activity in Liver Transplantation Patients: Results of a Case-Control Study in Italy

• Published in: Transplantation proceedings Vol. 44; no. 5; pp. 1346 - 1350
• Main Authors: Masala, D, Mannocci, A, Unim, B, Del Cimmuto, A, Turchetta, F, Gatto, G, Santoro, R, Ettorre, G.M, Boccia, A, La Torre, G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Inc 01.06.2012; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Case-Control Studies; Chi-Square Distribution; Epidemiology; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fundamental immunology; General aspects; Health Status; Humans; Italy; Life Style; Linear Models; Liver Transplantation - adverse effects; Liver, biliary tract, pancreas, portal circulation, spleen; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Motor Activity; Multivariate Analysis; Patient Satisfaction; Pilot Projects; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Quality of Life; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Surgery; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Surgery of the digestive system; Surveys and Questionnaires; Time Factors; Tissue, organ and graft immunology; Treatment Outcome; Italy; Europe; Physical exercise; Human; Digestive system; Liver; Patient; Case control study; Homotransplantation; Epidemiology; Quality of life; Result; Medicine; Treatment; Surgery; Graft; Public health; Liver transplantation
• ISSN: 0041-1345; 1873-2623
• DOI: 10.1016/j.transproceed.2012.01.123

Abstract The aim of the study was to assess the quality of life (QOL) and the physical activity of liver transplant recipients compared with the general population. The case-controlled pilot study was accomplished through the administration of 2 questionnaires: 36-item Medical Outcomes Study, Short-Form General Health Survey (SF-36) for quality of life (10 scores) and International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) to estimate the physical activity (metabolic equivalent score). Fifty-four patients who underwent liver transplantation using the piggyback technique and 108 controls from the general population at the orthopedic ambulatories were enrolled between 2002 and 2009. Participants had a mean age of 55 years (range, 41–73). The multivariate analysis showed significant differences for some scales of the SF-36: liver transplant recipients displayed lower values for “Mental Composite Score” ( P = .043), “physical activity” ( P = .001), “role limitations due to physical health” ( P = .006), “role limitations due to the emotional state” ( P = .006), and “mental health” ( P = .010). The metabolic equivalent positively associated with all examined SF-36 scales. The present study focused on the QOL and physical activity of liver transplant recipients, demonstrating that transplant recipients scored lower than the general population. Liver transplantation may allow full recovery of health status, but the physical and social problems persist in some patients. Interventions aimed at improving rehabilitation programs, regular psychosocial support, and follow-up in all phases of treatment may give patients a more satisfying lifestyle after transplantation.