Impact of Physical Rehabilitation on Sexual Function of Patients after Liver Transplantation in a Teaching Hospital

Clarissa Bentes; Marcelo Alcântara Holanda; Betina Santos Tomaz; Daniela Gardano Bucharles Mont'Alverne; Antonio George de Matos Cavalcante; Elizabeth De Francesco Daher; José Huygens  Parente Garcia; Eanes Pereira

Authors

Clarissa Bentes Universidade Federal do Ceará – Faculdade de Medicina – Departamento de Medicina Clínica – Fortaleza (CE) – Brazil. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2400-8210
Marcelo Alcântara Holanda Universidade Federal do Ceará – Faculdade de Medicina – Departamento de Medicina Clínica – Fortaleza (CE) – Brazil. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6002-0084
Betina Santos Tomaz Universidade Federal do Ceará – Faculdade de Medicina – Departamento de Medicina Clínica – Fortaleza (CE) – Brazil. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2523-7296
Daniela Gardano Bucharles Mont'Alverne Universidade Federal do Ceará – Faculdade de Medicina – Departamento de Medicina Clínica – Fortaleza (CE) – Brazil. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9739-6878
Antonio George de Matos Cavalcante Universidade Federal do Ceará – Faculdade de Medicina – Departamento de Medicina Clínica – Fortaleza (CE) – Brazil. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6981-3462
Elizabeth De Francesco Daher Universidade Federal do Ceará – Faculdade de Medicina – Departamento de Medicina Clínica – Fortaleza (CE) – Brazil. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4189-1738
José Huygens Parente Garcia Universidade Federal do Ceará – Faculdade de Medicina – Departamento de Medicina Clínica – Fortaleza (CE) – Brazil. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4401-137X
Eanes Pereira Universidade Federal do Ceará – Faculdade de Medicina – Departamento de Medicina Clínica – Fortaleza (CE) – Brazil. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4414-3164

Keywords:

Liver Transplantation, Physical Rehabilitation, Sexuality

Abstract

Objectives: There is a lack of data regarding the effects of exercise on sexual function after liver transplantation (LT). This research, conducted in the Northeast of Brazil, aimed to assess the impact of an 8-week rehabilitation program on the sexual function of patients following LT, compared to a control group (CG) not participating in an exercise program. Methods: This controlled, nonrandomized pilot study enrolled patients in an 8-week, thrice-weekly, comprehensive, supervised rehabilitation program initiated 1 month after LT. A nonrandomized CG of patients was selected to match the physical rehabilitation group (PRG) based on specific demographic data and disease severity. Results: Both groups were comparable in baseline measurements; before the intervention, the mean sexual scores for PRG vs. CG were 62.9 (95%CI 56.8-68.8) and 54.8 (95%CI 48.7-61.0), respectively, and the difference was not statistically significant. After the intervention, the mean sexual scores for PRG vs. CG increased to 82.8 (95%CI 78.9-86.8) and 70.5 (95%CI 66.1-74.9), respectively, and were statistically significant. The effect of PR over the 8 weeks significantly impacted sexual function, with higher sexual scores in week 8 following rehabilitation compared to week 1 (83.2 ± 5.8 and 95%CI [71.6-94.6] vs. 62.4 ± 4.1 and 95%CI [54.6-70.3]; p < 0.001) for both genders. Conclusion: This work contributes to filling a gap in studies exploring the positive effects of physical exercise on sexual function among patients after LT. This provides a framework for implementing timely interventions related to specific behaviors.

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References

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Impact of Physical Rehabilitation on Sexual Function of Patients after Liver Transplantation in a Teaching Hospital

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