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A survey questionnaire evaluating physical activity patterns and determinants in patients with chronic liver disease

  • Original Article―Liver, Pancreas, and Biliary Tract
  • Published:
Journal of Gastroenterology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

Physical activity can reduce the risk of morbidity and mortality in patients with chronic liver disease (CLD), whereas physical inactivity adversely affects clinical outcomes. Since data on physical activity in CLD are scarce, we conducted a questionnaire survey to assess the physical activity patterns and determinants in patients with CLD.

Methods

We surveyed 437 patients from outpatient clinics at Gifu University Hospital about their physical activity patterns and determinants in 2022 using a validated questionnaire. The primary objective was to examine the proportion of patients who exercised and the clinical characteristics of patients who achieved high levels of physical activity. The secondary objectives were to explore the types, motivations, barriers, and preferences for physical activity.

Results

Among the 397 eligible patients (median age 68 years; 51% men; and median Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score 6), 55.4% reported performing physical activity less than once a week. Physical activity frequency was not associated with sex, body mass index, comorbidities, or hepatic reserve. Among the respondents, 60.4% expressed concern regarding physical strength, and 80.6% expressed concern regarding physical inactivity. The main barriers to physical activity were work, household chores, and health problems. However, many respondents expressed their willingness to increase their physical activity frequency with some promotional policies. Walking was the most common physical activity practiced in the past year and the activity most respondents wanted to try in the future.

Conclusions

Patients with CLD are insufficiently active and need physical activity interventions, especially regarding walking.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank all the medical professionals involved in this study.

Funding

This work was supported by a Grant-in-Aid for Research from the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED) (Grant number, 23fk0210128s0401).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Gastroenterology/Internal Medicine, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Yanagido, Gifu, 501-1194, Japan

    Tatsunori Hanai, Shinji Unome, Takao Miwa, Yuki Nakahata, Kenji Imai, Atsushi Suetsugu, Koji Takai & Masahito Shimizu

  2. Center for Nutrition Support and Infection Control, Gifu University Hospital, Gifu, Japan

    Kayoko Nishimura

Authors
  1. Tatsunori Hanai
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  2. Kayoko Nishimura
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  3. Shinji Unome
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  4. Takao Miwa
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  5. Yuki Nakahata
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  6. Kenji Imai
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  7. Atsushi Suetsugu
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  8. Koji Takai
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  9. Masahito Shimizu
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Data collection and analysis were performed by TH, KN, SU, TM, YN, KI, AS, and KT. The first draft of the manuscript was written by TH and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Tatsunori Hanai.

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Hanai, T., Nishimura, K., Unome, S. et al. A survey questionnaire evaluating physical activity patterns and determinants in patients with chronic liver disease. J Gastroenterol 59, 45–55 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00535-023-02047-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00535-023-02047-x

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