A Home-based Exercise and Physical Activity Intervention After Liver Transplantation: Impact of Exercise Intensity
Trial Parameters
Brief Summary
Research demonstrated that transplant recipients benefit from physical activity, but there is a gap in knowledge regarding the required intensity. In the PHOENIX-Liver study, researchers aim to investigate the adequate intensity of rehabilitation programs after liver transplantation. Patients will be randomized into one of the three PHOENIX-Liver training groups (low, moderate, moderate to high). The six months rehabilitation program is conducted from the patient's home but supervised by a PHOENIX-investigator. At baseline, after three months of rehabilitation and after six months of rehabilitation, a test moment takes place at which physical fitness, cardiovascular health, liver function, and body composition will be assessed. Questionnaires are taken monthly to survey well-being, safety, quality of life, physical activity, and cost-effectiveness. To gather information on the potential for implementation in a real-world setting, a 15-month-long physical activity phase will start after the intervention phase. This entails a maintenance physical activity program tailored to the patients' preferences. A follow-up at UZ Leuven is planned at three and at 15 months where the same clinical evaluations will be conducted as during the test moments of the intervention phase.
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * de novo adult liver transplant recipients with a transplant vintage of two to three months * access to a home freezer (± -18°C) Exclusion Criteria: * Aberrant CPET (abnormal low cardiorespiratory fitness is not considered an exclusion criteria), unstable angina, life-threatening arrhythmias, uncontrolled hypertension/diabetes, HbA1c ≥ 9%, severe pulmonary disease (FEV1 \< 50%), musculoskeletal disorders not allowing physical training on a cycle ergometer, or any other medical reasons by the physician considered to be a contraindication for moderate or high-intensity physical exercise * multi-organ transplantation (exception: combined liver-kidney transplant is considered eligible for participation) * ongoing treatment for malignancies * unable to understand Dutch * no access to smartphone and/or computer with internet access * does not willing to except the general conditions of Coachbox. Preparticipation medical screening (cardiopulmonary exercise testing with 12