Health-related fitness and quality of life in organ transplant recipients.
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.
Painter
P L
PL
University of California, San Francisco 94143, USA. Painter@SCRDP.Stanford.edu
Luetkemeier
M J
MJ
Moore
G E
GE
Dibble
S L
SL
Green
G A
GA
Myll
J O
JO
Carlson
L L
LL
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