title: Correlation between functional capacity and respiratory assessment of end-stage liver disease patients waiting for transplant.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  End-stage liver disease has metabolic complications associated with malnutrition, which involves a great loss of muscle mass. This complication can lead to changes in the diaphragm, which along with ascites may impair daily activities and result in global motor disability and physical inactivity of patients on the waiting list for liver transplantation.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study sought to delineate the profile of candidates for liver transplantation while on the waiting list at the Clinical Hospital of State University Campinas (UNICAMP), and to assess and verify whether there is a correlation between functional status of the individuals tested using the 6-minute walk test (6MWT), pulmonary function test (PFT), and respiratory muscle strength with end-stage liver disease candidates for liver transplantation.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was carried out in the Liver Transplantation Unit of the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP). We included 46 patients with end-stage liver disease who underwent the following evaluations: medical history, 6MWT, PFT, maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP), and maximal expiratory pressure (MEP), and SF-36.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Correlations were found between the respiratory variables 6MWT and PFT. The walked distance was correlated with MIP and MEP. There was no correlation between the 6MWT and the variables body mass index and age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Candidates for liver transplantation have decreased muscle strength, normal lung function, and impaired quality of life, mainly due to physical limitations. Functional status may be correlated with the respiratory assessment (muscle strength and pulmonary function test) in liver disease candidates for transplantation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, State University of Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, State University of Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Limongi
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, State University of Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: A M O
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Da Silva
authors.affiliation: Liver Transplantation, Hospital de Clínicas, State University of Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: E C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Ataide
authors.affiliation: Liver Transplantation, Hospital de Clínicas, State University of Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: M F T
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Mei
authors.affiliation: Liver Transplantation, Hospital de Clínicas, State University of Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: E Y
authors.initials: EY
authors.lastname: Udo
authors.affiliation: Digestive Surgery and Liver Transplantation, State University of Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: I F S F
authors.initials: IF
authors.lastname: Boin
authors.affiliation: Liver Transplantation, Hospital de Clínicas, State University of Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address: stucchi.raquel@gmail.com.
authors.forename: R S B
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Stucchi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D058625:End Stage Liver Disease / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology; D011788:Quality of Life; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012132:Respiratory Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology*; D019737:Transplants; D014850:Waiting Lists