Investigating the Effectiveness of Home-Based Exercise Therapy on Quality of Life and Depression in Orthotopic Liver Transplantation Recipients

Introduction: Liver transplantation can change the quality of life, physical activity, mood, and psychological symptoms in patients. Considering that exercise capacity is correlated to the level of depression and quality of life among patients, this study investigates the effect of exercise therapy on the quality of life and depression in orthotopic liver transplantation recipients (LTRs). Materials and Methods: This was a single-blinded study with randomized controlled trial parallel groups, and 30 LTRs were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio. The experimental group underwent a three-month home-based exercise therapy, while the control group received no exercise therapy. Assessments included short-form-36 and the Beck depression questionnaires, along with the 6-min walk test. Results: There was no significant difference between groups in demographic characteristics. Before the intervention, the mean scores of depression in the intervention and control groups were 27.87±8.68 and 25.77±6.77, respectively. After the intervention, t-test revealed a significant difference between the two groups (P=0.001). The results of the t-test indicated that the average quality of life dimensions improved post-intervention compared to the control group, with significant differences in the scores of these dimensions. After the intervention, the t-test showed a significant difference between the two groups in terms of the 6-min walk test (P=0.001). Conclusion: Rehabilitation through prescribed exercise can improve quality of life and physical activity, and alleviate depression symptoms in LTRs. As a result, incorporating physiotherapy into the post-transplantation care of transplant recipients holds potential benefits.