title: Physical activity long-term after liver transplantation yields better quality of life.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Transplantation is the only effective method of treatment for end-stage and acute liver failure. Increased average survival time has been observed, and results from improved surgical technique and amended immunosuppression protocols. However, longer survival of patients after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) results in higher rate of various complications and ailments (eg, chronic fatigue, anxiousness, social isolation). Hence, gradual deterioration of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is likely. The goal of this study was to examine the relation between physical activity and quality of life in patients 5 years after OLT.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-six randomly selected patients who survived more than 5 years after orthotopic liver transplantation were included into the study. An SF-36 questionnaire was used for assessment of quality of life. Physical activity was measured subjectively by characterizing its type, duration and frequency per week during the previous 12 months. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to the results of physical activity assessment. Group A consisted of patients who had indicated they had a sedentary life style, and group B of those regularly engaging in physical exercise.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results of the SF-36 questionnaire in 10 categories were compared between the 2 groups. The majority of aspects of health-related quality of life (physical function, body problems, general health, social function, and emotional reaction) were significantly improved in patients who indicated they regularly engaged in physical exercise.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Better quality of life was observed in patients who were physically active after OLT. Improving life quality with regular physical activity could be a valuable supplementation of complex management of OLT recipients.
authors.affiliation: Division of Rehabilitation, Department of Physiotherapy, 2nd Medical Faculty of Medical University of Warsaw, Poland. rongies@interia.pl
authors.forename: Witold
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Rongies
authors.forename: Sylwia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stepniewska
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lewandowska
authors.forename: Edyta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Smolis-Bak
authors.forename: Wlodzimierz
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Dolecki
authors.forename: Janusz
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sierdzinski
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Trzepla
authors.forename: Grazyna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cholewinska
authors.forename: Wanda
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Stankiewicz
mesh_terms: D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D010809:Physical Fitness; D011584:Psychology; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors