DYNAMIC OF PHYSICAL CAPACITY AND QUALITY OF LIFE AFTER HEART TRANSPLANTATION

Abstract

Aim: to estimate physical capacity and quality of life (QoL) and defi ne factors which impact on their dynamic in recipients after heart transplantation (HTx).Materials and methods. From January 2010 to September 2016 we performed 76 HTx (mean age – 45,4 ± 1,6 yrs). Physical activity (PA) was evaluated by IPAQ questionnaire, QoL – by SF-36 (6 months and 1 yr after HTx). Patients underwent cardiopulmonary exercise test (Oxycon Pro, Germany) before, 6 months (n = 32) and 1 yr (n = 31) after HTx.Results. In 6 months after HTx PC improved (VO2peak – 12,6 ± 0,5 and 17,3 ± 0,6 ml/min/kg, p < 0,001). One yr after HTx physically active recipients (n = 21) showed better results (VO2peak – 18,7 ± 0,9 vs. 16,7 ± 0,4 ml/min/kg, p < 0,05). Moreover, 6 months 59,4% (n = 19) and 1 yr after HTx 77,4% (n = 24) of all patients reached normal values, 20 of them were physically active. We did not fi nd any difference in results depending on heart failure severity, duration of illness and of time spent in HT waiting list. In 6 months after HTx physical health (PH) increased (32,2 ± 1,1 vs. 48,2 ± 1,6, p < 0,001), on the other hand, results of mental health (MH) were the same and remained stable in 1 yr after HTx. In addition, QoL was higher in physically active patients than in sedentary lifestyle ones. There was correlations between PH and PA duration (r = 0,4; p < 0,05), VO2peak (r = 0,3; p < 0,05), VO2 at AT (r = 0,4; p < 0,05) and VE/VCO2 (r = –0,5; p < 0,05).Conclusion. After heart transplantation physical capacity and physical health improved but physically active recipients showed better results. Factors affecting the increase in physical capacity were improvement in the functional state of the cardiovascular system and physical activity.

Keywords

• heart transplantation
• heart failure
• physical activity
• physical capacity
• cardiopulmonary exercise test (cpet)
• quality of life (qol)