Effects of a rehabilitation programme on daily functioning, participation, health-related quality of life, anxiety and depression in liver transplant recipients.

PURPOSE

Fatigue is a chronic problem in liver transplant recipients and may influence daily functioning and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a fatigue-reducing physical rehabilitation programme on daily functioning, participation, HRQoL, anxiety and depression among liver transplant recipients.

METHOD

Eighteen fatigued liver transplant recipients (mean age 51 years, 10 men/8 women) participated in a 12-week rehabilitation programme, which included supervised exercise training and daily physical activity counselling. We assessed pre- and post-programme health-related daily functioning, participation, HRQoL, anxiety and depression using questionnaires.

RESULTS

After the programme, patients showed improvements in daily functioning (23.6%, p = 0.007), the participation domain 'autonomy outdoors' (34.1%, p = 0.001), and the HRQoL domains 'physical functioning' (11.5%, p = 0.007) and 'vitality' (21.5%, p = 0.022). Anxiety and depression were unchanged post-programme.

CONCLUSIONS

Rehabilitation using supervised exercise training and daily physical activity counselling can positively influence daily functioning, participation and HRQoL among fatigued liver transplant recipients.