Increase of physical activity level after successful renal transplantation: a 5 year follow-up study

Background. Physical activity (PA) level of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients after renal transplantation (TP) is a largely unexplored field, al though it is an important component of quality of life. Methods. Using the Baecke self-administered and the Five-City Project 7-day PA recall questionnaires, PA level was estimated in 32 consecutive ESRD pa tients (12 males, 20 females; mean age 45.9 +/- 13.1 years; mean dialysis d uration 23.5 +/- 21.8 months) admitted for renal TP and to whom no exercise programme of any kind was proposed. PA were recorded 1, 3, 6, 12 and 60 mo nths after TP. Results. Immediate pre-TP PA level of renal transplant candidates was betwe en 18 and 35% less than that of age-matched healthy subjects (P < 0.05), de pending on gender and questionnaire. After an immediate decrease in PA leve l 1 month post-TP, mean PA level increased and reached a plateau 1 year aft er TP. This gain in PA capacity reached 30%, as compared with pre-TP values (P = 0.06 to P < 0.01). During the fifth year after TP, the mean level of PA was unchanged. A more qualitative analysis, allowed by the sub-score com parisons, showed that although the occupational status of the patients rema ined the same, they participated significantly more in moderate and even hi gh intensity PA (leisure, sports, household chores) after TP. Conclusions. Most renal graft recipients are spontaneously more active afte r TP, an observation consistent with a better quality of life. Therefore, t hey should be advised precisely about how to resume more strenuous activiti es such as sports in order to avoid cardiac or musculoskeletal disorders in relation to their weakened pre-TP condition.