Physical activity and its correlates in a pediatric solid-organ transplant population

Pediatr Transplant. 2020 Aug;24(5):e13745. doi: 10.1111/petr.13745. Epub 2020 Jun 11.

Abstract

PA has been shown to have benefits in SOT patients. Studies assessing physical activity levels and its correlates in a pediatric solid-organ transplant population are limited. The aim of this study was to assess PA levels and identify baseline and contemporaneous factors that contribute to PA in a pediatric SOT population. A retrospective cross-sectional review was performed on 58 pediatric transplant patients (16 heart, 29 kidney, and 13 liver transplant). PA was measured by PAQ-C or PAQ-A. Demographics, baseline, and contemporaneous factors were collected. There were no significant differences in baseline and contemporaneous characteristics between heart, kidney, and liver transplant recipients. SOT recipients were 15.2 [12.3-17.3] years old at time of completing the PAQ. Median PAQ score was 2.2 [1.7-2.9]. There were no significant differences in PAQ scores between organ transplant type or between genders. Lower PAQ score was associated with sensory disability (9 vs 49 without disability; P = <.01) and age at time of completing the PAQ (r = -.50, P = <.01). These results suggest that older age at time of completing the PAQ and presence of sensory disability may influence PA levels in the pediatric SOT population.

Keywords: child; heart transplant; kidney transplant; liver transplant; physical activity.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Age Factors
  • Child
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Exercise* / physiology
  • Exercise* / psychology
  • Female
  • Health Behavior* / physiology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Organ Transplantation* / psychology
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Self Report