Capacidade aeróbica, qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde e resultado precoce do transplante de fígado

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The difficulties in assessing the overall health status of patients on the waiting list for liver transplantation (LT) and predicting the outcome of surgery and events not relate to the liver stimulate the search for new measuring instruments. Cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) and measuring health-related quality of life (HRQoL) are examples. The former can determine the aerobic capacity (AC) in patients with liver disease who have significant physical limitations attributed to myopathy. The latter can be assessed by questionnaires, thus, assist in setting specific targets for treatment and the planning of more effective interventions. To evaluate the association between AC and liver function (MELD) and HRQoL in patients with liver cirrhosis and to determine which of these variables are associated with the outcome of early LT (length of ICU and hospitalization and death). METHOD: The study included patients older than 18 who were on the liver waiting list from May 2009 to October 2010 in HC-UFMG. The patients underwent CPET and answered the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form questionnaire (SF-36). For quantification of disease severity categorized the sample was separated according to the MELD (MELD 17, MELD > 17). The results were analyzed after LT as length ICU, length of hospitalization, and survival. RESULTS: 55 patients were analysed. The group MELD > 17 had a worse AC when compared with MELD 17 (p = 0.048) and AC was independently of other variables associated with length of hospital stay (p = 0.01). No association was observed between the SF-36 and MELD and no variable were associates with survival. CONCLUSION: We suggest that interventions to improve patients' AC on the liver waiting list with MELD > 17 should be considered