Physical fitness, fatigue, and quality of life after liver transplantation

Fatigue is often experienced after liver transplantation. The aims of this cross-sectional study were to assess physical fitness (cardiorespiratory fitness, neuromuscular fitness, body composition) in liver transplant recipients and to explore whether physical fitness is related to severity of fatigue. In addition, we explored the relationship between physical fitness and health-related quality of life. Included were 18 patients 1–5 years after transplantation (aged 48.0 ± 11.8 years) with varying severity of fatigue. Peak oxygen uptake during cycle ergometry, 6-min walk distance, isokinetic muscle strength of the knee extensors, body mass index, waist circumference, skinfold thickness, severity of fatigue, and health-related quality of life were measured. Cardiorespiratory fitness in the liver transplant recipients was on average 16–34% lower than normative values (P ≤ 0.05). Furthermore, the prevalence of obesity seemed to be higher than in the general population (17 vs. 10%). We found no deficit in neuromuscular fitness. Cardiorespiratory fitness was the only fitness component that was related with severity of fatigue (rs = −0.61 to rs = -0.50, P ≤ 0.05). Particularly cardiorespiratory fitness was related with several aspects of health-related quality of life (rs = 0.48 to rs = 0.70, P ≤ 0.05). Results of our study imply that cardiorespiratory fitness and body composition are impaired in liver transplant recipients and that fitness is related with severity of fatigue (only cardiorespiratory fitness) and quality of life (particularly cardiorespiratory fitness) in this group. These findings have implications for the development of rehabilitation programs for liver transplant recipients

Long-term follow-up after cancer rehabilitation using high-intensity resistance training: persistent improvement of physical performance and quality of life

The short-term beneficial effects of physical rehabilitation programmes after cancer treatment have been described. However, little is known regarding the long-term effects. The purpose of this study was to investigate the long-term effects of high-intensity resistance training compared with traditional recovery. A total of 68 cancer survivors who completed an 18-week resistance training programme were followed for 1 year. During the 1-year follow-up, 19 patients dropped out (14 due to recurrence of cancer). The remaining 49 patients of the intervention group were compared with a group of 22 patients treated with chemotherapy in the same period but not participating in any rehabilitation programme. Outcome measures were muscle strength, cardiopulmonary function, fatigue, and health-related quality of life. One year after completion of the rehabilitation programme, the outcome measures in the intervention group were still at the same level as immediately after rehabilitation. Muscle strength at 1 year was significantly higher in patients who completed the resistance training programme than in the comparison group. High-intensity resistance training has persistent effects on muscle strength, cardiopulmonary function, quality of life, and fatigue. Rehabilitation programmes for patients treated with chemotherapy with a curative intention should include high-intensity resistance training in their programme

Design of the EXercise Intervention after Stem cell Transplantation (EXIST) study: a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of an individualized high intensity physical exercise program on fitness and fatigue in patients with multiple myeloma or (non-) Hodgkin's lymphoma treated with high dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The use of high-dose chemotherapy combined with autologous stem cell transplantation has improved the outcome of hematologic malignancies. Nevertheless, this treatment can cause persistent fatigue and a reduced global quality of life, role and physical function. Physical exercise interventions may be beneficial for physical fitness, fatigue and quality of life. However, the trials conducted so far to test the effects of physical exercise interventions in this group of patients were of poor to moderate methodological quality and economic evaluations are lacking. Hence there is need for a rigorous, appropriately controlled assessment of the effectiveness of exercise programs in these patients. The aims of the present study are (1) to determine the effectiveness of an individualized high intensity strength and interval training program with respect to physiological and psychological health status in patients with multiple myeloma or (non-)Hodgkin's lymphoma who have recently undergone high dose chemotherapy followed by autologous stem cell transplantation; and (2) to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of this program.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A multicenter, prospective, single blind randomized controlled trial will be performed. We aim to recruit 120 patients within an inclusion period of 2 years at 7 hospitals in the Netherlands. The patients will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: (1) intervention plus usual care; or (2) usual care. The intervention consists of an 18-week individualized supervised high-intensity exercise program and counselling. The primary outcomes (cardiorespiratory fitness, muscle strength and fatigue) and secondary outcomes are assessed at baseline, at completion of the intervention and at 12 months follow-up.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>The strengths of this study include the solid trial design with clearly defined research groups and standardized outcome measures, the inclusion of an economic evaluation and the inclusion of both resistance and endurance exercise in the intervention program.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p>This study is registered at the Netherlands Trial Register (NTR2341)</p

Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis—Clinical presentation, outcome and baseline prognostic factors in a Portuguese cohort

Introduction: Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) is the most common disease in the subgroup of idiopathic interstitial pneumonias. It is inevitably associated to a bad prognosis, although assuming a highly variable clinical course. Methods: Patients with IPF, observed at Interstitial Lung Diseases outpatient clinic of Centro Hospitalar de São João â Porto, Portugal, were identified and clinical, functional, radiological and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) parameters were reviewed. Their clinical course and survival were analyzed in order to identify prognostic factors. Results: Eighty-one patients were included, with a mean age at diagnosis of 63.8 years old. At diagnosis, the main functional abnormalities were restrictive physiology, reduced lung diffusion and exercise capacity impairment. Clinical course was mainly slowly progressive (72.3%). Ten patients (13.2%) had a rapid progression and 11 (14.5%) patients had an acute exacerbation during the course of the disease. IPF's rapid progression was associated to a higher functional impairment at diagnosis, namely in what is related with Functional Vital Capacity (FVC) and Total Lung Capacity (TLC). Median survival was 36 months. A significant difference in survival was observed among different types of clinical course â 41 months for slow progressors and 9 months for rapid progressors. Lower levels of FVC, TLC, six-minute walk test (6MWT) distance and rest PaO2, and higher BAL neutrophil count were associated with poorer survival in univariate analysis. Conclusion: The analysis of this group of IPF patients confirms two clearly different phenotypes, slow and rapid progressors. Those phenotypes seem to have different presentations and a remarkably different natural history. These results could mean different physiopathologic pathways, which could implicate different therapeutic approaches. Resumo: Introdução: A Fibrose Pulmonar Idiopática (FPI) é a patologia mais comum no subgrupo das Pneumonias Intersticiais Idiopáticas. Apesar de uma grande variabilidade no tipo de evolução clínica, está inexoravelmente associada a um mau prognóstico. Material e métodos: Foram identificados doentes com FPI, observados na consulta de Doenças Pulmonares Difusas do Centro Hospitalar de São João, Porto, e revistos os seus parâmetros clínicos, funcionais, radiológicos e do lavado broncoalveolar (LBA). A evolução clínica e sobrevivência foram avaliadas, tendo sido igualmente identificados factores prognósticos. Resultados: Foram incluídos 81 doentes com uma média de idade de 63.8 anos. Na altura do diagnóstico, as principais alterações funcionais identificadas foram restrição, redução da difusão pulmonar e da capacidade de exercício. A maioria dos doentes (72.3%) apresentou uma evolução clínica lentamente progressiva. Em 10 doentes (13.2%), foi observada uma evolução rapidamente progressiva e 11 (14.5%) apresentaram exacerbação aguda. Verificou-se uma associação entre a evolução rapidamente progressiva e uma maior gravidade funcional ao diagnóstico, nomeadamente na Capacidade Vital Forçada (CVF) e Capacidade Pulmonar Total (CPT). A sobrevivência mediana foi de 36 meses. Verificou-se uma diferença estatisticamente significativa na sobrevivência entre os diferentes grupos de evolução clínica - 41 meses para os doentes com evolução lentamente progressiva e 9 meses para os doentes com evolução rapidamente progressiva. Valores inferiores de CVF, CPT, distância na Prova da marcha dos 6 minutos e PaO2 em repouso, bem como o maior grau de neutrofilia no LBA estiveram associados a uma sobrevivência inferior em análise univariada. Conclusão: A análise deste grupo de doentes com FPI confirma a existência de 2 fenótipos claramente distintos, o de evolução lenta e o de evolução rapidamente progressiva. Estes fenótipos têm uma diferente apresentação clínica e uma história natural da doença claramente distinta, sugerindo a presença de diferentes mecanismos fisiopatológicos, os quais poderão implicar diferentes abordagens terapêuticas. Keywords: Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, Survival, Prognosis, Palavras-chave: Fibrose Pulmonar Idiopática, Sobrevivência, Prognóstic