Assessment of Daily Physical Activity in Patients with Type C Liver Cirrhosis

Hiroto Tanaka; Hideyuki Sasaki; Mikio Arita

Volume : III, Issue : XII, December - 2014

Assessment of Daily Physical Activity in Patients with Type C Liver Cirrhosis

Hiroto Tanaka, Hideyuki Sasaki, Mikio Arita

Abstract :

Background/Aims: The liver plays an important role in energy metabolism. In particular, protein-energy malnutrition is a common finding in patients with liver cirrhosis. Analysis of the level of daily physical activity is therefore important in patients with liver cirrhosis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the level of daily physical activity and associations between daily physical activity and liver functions in patients with liver cirrhosis type C. Methodology: Subjects comprised 11 patients with liver cirrhosis type C (mean age, 70.0�9.8 years; Child A, 6 patients; Child B, 5 patients). Patients with moderate or severe physical disease were excluded. A physical activity monitor was used by all patients for 2 weeks to monitor values such as metabolic equivalents (METs), exercise (Ex; METs x hours), mean daily number of steps, and mean level of daily physical activity. Results: Although serum data for the Child B group showed no significant differences compared with the Child A group, the Child B group showed significant decreases in the frequency of an Ex level >3 METs mean daily number of steps and mean level of daily physical activity. In addition, serum albumin level showed a significant positive relationship with mean daily number of steps (r=0.717, p<0.05) and serum AST level displayed a significant negative correlation to Ex level >4 METs (r=-0.634, p<0.05). Conclusion: A decrease in daily physical activity was associated with decreased liver function, in the form of decreased serum albumin level and increased of serum AST level.