Fatigue, level of everyday physical activity and quality of life after liver transplantation.
OBJECTIVE
To assess whether liver transplant recipients have a hypoactive (sedentary) lifestyle and whether the level of everyday physical activity is related to complaints of fatigue. In addition, we explored the relationship between activity level and health-related quality of life.


METHODS
Case comparison.


METHODS
Eight persons 6-36 months after liver transplantation with varying severity of fatigue and 8 persons without known impairments (matched for gender, age, social situation and employment).


METHODS
Activity levels were assessed during 2 randomly selected consecutive weekdays with an accelerometry-based Activity Monitor. In the transplantation group, severity of fatigue (Fatigue Severity Scale) and health-related quality of life (RAND-36) were also assessed.


RESULTS
Five liver transplant recipients had a hypoactive lifestyle, but there was no significant difference in activity level between the transplantation group and comparison group. Severity of fatigue was correlated (p=0.01) with both duration of dynamic activities and intensity of everyday activity (r(s)=-0.81 and -0.84, respectively). Activity level was correlated (p< or =0.05) with several domains of health-related quality of life (r(s)=0.72-0.78).


CONCLUSIONS
As a group, liver transplant recipients were not significantly less active than comparison subjects. Activity level was related with severity of fatigue and health-related quality of life. These findings have implications for the development of interventions needed to rehabilitate persons after liver transplantation.
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. h.j.g.vandenberg@erasmusmc.nl
Rita
R
van den Berg-Emons
Geert
G
Kazemier
Berbke
B
van Ginneken
Channah
C
Nieuwenhuijsen
Hugo
H
Tilanus
Henk
H
Stam
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015444:Exercise; D005221:Fatigue / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D011788:Quality of Life; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors