Functional fitness and Vit. D levels in patients with hepatopathy

Introduction: patients with hepatopathy are at risk of vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D levels affect, among other things, metabolism and physiological functions of muscle tissue and thus functional fitness. The aim of this study is to assess muscle mass and strength in relation to vitamin D levels and other factors that affect functional physical fitness in patients with cirrhosis, compared to a control group of patients without hepatopathy and other chronic comorbidities. Methods: 11 patients with liver cirrhosis were enrolled in an observational cohort study compared with 11 controls without chronic comorbidities. Anthropometric and bioimpedance measurements were performed, functional tests, the 6MWT 6-minute walk test, hand grip strength assessment and calorimetry examination were also evaluated, and laboratory parameters were assessed. Study participants completed the CLDQ test, which assessed the quality of life of people with liver disease. Respondents answered questions regarding lifestyle, eating habits, physical activity and functional physical fitness. For patients with cirrhosis, the Child Pugh score and MELD score were used to assess the progression of cirrhosis. Results. At the time of the study, the vast majority of patients had a compensated form of liver cirrhosis, Child Pugh A..