title: Factors Affecting Exercise Test Performance in Patients After Liver Transplantation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cardiovascular diseases are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in solid organ transplant recipients. In addition, low physical activity is a risk factor for cardiac and cerebrovascular complications.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study examined potential relationships between physical activity, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), risk factors for cardiovascular disease, and an exercise test in liver-graft recipients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 107 participants (62 men/45 women) who had received a liver transplantation (LT) at least 6 months previously were evaluated. Physical activity was assessed using three different questionnaires, while HRQoL was assessed using the medical outcomes study short form (SF)-36 questionnaire, and health behaviors were evaluated using the health behavior inventory (HBI). The exercise test was performed in a standard manner.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seven participants (6.5%) had a positive exercise test, and these individuals were older than those who had a negative exercise test (P = 0.04). A significant association between a negative exercise test and a higher level of physical activity was shown by the Seven-day physical activity recall questionnaire. In addition, HRQoL was improved in various domains of the SF-36 in participants who had a negative exercise test. No correlations between physical activity, the exercise test and healthy behaviors, as assessed via the HBI were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Exercise test performance was affected by lower quality of life and lower physical activity after LT. With the exception of hypertension, well known factors that affect the risk of coronary artery disease had no effect on the exercise test results.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Culture and Health Promotion, University of Szczecin, Szczecin, Poland.
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kotarska
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Molecular Biochemistry, Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin, Poland.
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wunsch
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin, Poland.
authors.forename: Lukasz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jodko
authors.affiliation: Hepatology and Internal Medicine Unit, Department of General, Transplant and Liver Surgery, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Raszeja-Wyszomirska
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin, Poland.
authors.forename: Izabela
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bania
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin, Poland.
authors.forename: Malgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lawniczak
authors.affiliation: Institute of Liver Studies, School of Medicine, King's College Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bogdanos
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin, Poland.
authors.forename: Zdzislawa
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Kornacewicz-Jach
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Molecular Biochemistry, Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin, Poland; Hepatology and Internal Medicine Unit, Department of General, Transplant and Liver Surgery, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Milkiewicz
keywords: Exercise Test; Liver Transplantation; Physical Activity