Factors Affecting Health-Related Quality of Life in Liver Transplant Patients

This study seeks to evaluate the metabolic parameters such as body mass index (BMI), percentage of total body fat percentage (%BF), blood glucose, homeostatic index for quantification of insulin resistance and beta-cell function (HOMA-IR), sleep efficiency, and physical activity in liver transplant patients. The study group consisted of 24 male and 18 female patients, which enabled the inter-gender comparison. We found that a majority of patients had exceeded the norms for BMI and %BF. The excessive weight was distinctly accentuated in male patients. Only 40.5% of patients have a correct BMI and 21.4% of patients have a correct %BF. The indices of glucose metabolism were increased, pointing to enhanced insulin resistance. Resting energy expenditure and metabolic equivalent of task were characteristic of sedentary lifestyle, and they were lower in female patients. Almost 65% of patients had sleep efficiency below the desired 85% cut-off level. Further, sleep efficiency was decreasing with increasing BMI, %BF, and blood glucose level. In conclusion, liver transplant patients are characterized by excessive body mass and less physical activity and have a shortened sleep duration, all of which may lead to a worse glucose metabolism and increased disease risk and may also have an impact on quality of life.