title: Health-related fitness and quality of life in organ transplant recipients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to describe the levels of health-related fitness and quality of life in a group of organ transplant recipients who participated in the 1996 U.S. Transplant Games.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 128 transplant recipients were selected on a first reply basis for testing. Subjects with the following organ types were tested: kidney (n=76), liver (n=16), heart (n=19), lung (n=6), pancreas/kidney (n=7), and bone marrow (n=4). Cardiorespiratory fitness (peak oxygen uptake) was measured using symptom-limited treadmill exercise tests with expired gas analysis. The percentage of body fat was measured using skinfold measurements, and the Medical Outcomes Short Form questionnaire (SF-36) was used to evaluate health-related quality of life.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants achieved near age-predicted cardiorespiratory fitness (94.7+/-32.5% of age-predicted levels). Scores on the SF-36 were near normal. The active subjects (76% of total sample) had significantly higher levels of peak VO2 and quality of life and a lower percentage of body fat compared with inactive subjects (P<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although this is a highly select group which is not representative of the general transplant population, the data suggest that near-normal levels of physical functioning and quality of life are possible after transplantation and that those who participate in regular physical activity may achieve even higher levels.
authors.affiliation: University of California, San Francisco 94143, USA. Painter@SCRDP.Stanford.edu
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Painter
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Luetkemeier
authors.forename: G E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Dibble
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Green
authors.forename: J O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Myll
authors.forename: L L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Carlson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016377:Organ Transplantation; D005082:Physical Exertion; D010809:Physical Fitness; D011788:Quality of Life; D013177:Sports; D013997:Time Factors