This study will assess the feasibility, safety and effectiveness of a structured prehabilitation program combining exercise training, nutritional optimization and psychological support for patients with cirrhosis awaiting liver transplantation.
Due to their chronic liver disease, patients with cirrhosis awaiting liver transplantation develop low muscle mass, poor nutritional status and decreased reserves putting them at high risk of postoperative complications, prolonged hospital stay, and failed discharge home after liver transplantation. Prehabilitation aims to optimize a patient before they undergo a major surgery. These programs combine exercise training, with nutritional optimization and psychological support. Together, these contribute to improve their muscle mass, tolerance to exercise, and nutritional status. The current study will assess whether an individualized and structured prehabilitation program combining supervised exercise training, nutritional optimization and psychological support will benefit patients with cirrhosis awaiting liver transplantation.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
25
All participants will be offered a multimodal prehabilitation program. This program will include an individualized and supervised aerobic and resistance exercise training program, nutritional optimization, and psychological support. The program will last 6 months or until liver transplantation, whichever comes first.
McGill University Health Centre
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
RECRUITINGFeasibility of the intervention
Proportion of participants that adhere to the intervention protocol
Time frame: 12 months
Safety of the intervention
Incidence of intervention-related adverse events
Time frame: 24 weeks
Impact of exercise program on frailty
Interval change in liver frailty index, where a higher value indicates a higher degree of frailty
Time frame: At end of week-4, week-14, and week-24
Impact of nutritional program on nutritional status
Interval change in Royal Free Hospital Global Assessment status, where participants are classified as well nourished, moderately malnourished, or severely malnourished
Time frame: At end of week-4, week 14, and week-24
Impact of psychological program on health-related quality of life
Interval change in the Chronic Liver Disease Questionnaire (CLDQ) score where lower values indicate worse health-related quality of life.
Time frame: At end of week-4, week 14, and week-24
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