Effect of physical activity on the health-related quality of life in liver transplant recipients

Abstract

Objective To investigate the effects of physical activty on the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in liver transplant recipients.Methods According with the standard of physical activity participation in cardiovascular exercise one or more times per week for 30 min,totally 110 liver tranplantation recipients from Xi Jing Hospital,Affiliated to the Fourth Military Medical University between January 2004 and December 2011 were divided into active group ( 26 cases ) and inactive group ( 84 cases).And the patients were investigated with the medical outcomes study short form 36 (SF-36).The general datas,coexisting medical conditions and participation in regular physical activity were collected additionally.Results Significant differences between active and inactive subjects in the scores for the following scales were found:total score of SF-36 [ (65.89 ±24.57) vs (49.92 ±20.59) ],PCS[ (69.24 ±29.64) vs (40.71 ±20.96)],PF[(81.35 ±32.53) vs (34.56 ±17.40) ],RP[(75.12 ±39.27) vs (55.85 ±29.26) ],BP[ (60.26 ±27.68) vs (27.23 ±16.69)],GH[(61.29±25.32) vs (46.02±22.58)],VT[(54.84±20.45) vs (44.25±25.83)] (x2 =3.31,2.13,9.57,4.57,7.61,2.94,1.92,respectively; P ＜ 0.05 ).But the score of RE,SF and MCS has no difference between active and inactive group( x2 =1.39,0.47,1.71,respectively; P ＞ 0.05).Compared with active group,the morbidity of hypertension,arthritis and osteopotosis and the value of BMI index of inactive group were higher.Multiple regression analysis indicated the related main factors of the recipients' physical health and HRQOL were physical activity,time posttransplantation,BMI and the morbidity of arthritis and osteopotosis.Conclusions Physical activity is very important to maintain physical health and improve HRQOL for liver transplant recipients. Key words: Liver transplant; Recipient; Physical activity; Quality of life