Preliminary Evaluation of Sedentary Lifestyle in Italian Children after Solid Transplant: What Role Could Physical Activity Play in Health? It Is Time to Move

Eliana Tranchita (), Giulia Cafiero, Ugo Giordano, Isabella Guzzo, Raffaella Labbadia, Stefano Palermi, Claudia Cerulli, Manila Candusso, Marco Spada, Lucilla Ravà, Federica Gentili, Fabrizio Drago and Attilio Turchetta
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Eliana Tranchita: Department of Cardiac Surgery, Cardiology and Heart Lung Transplant, Division of Sports Medicine, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital IRCCS, 00165 Rome, Italy
Giulia Cafiero: Department of Cardiac Surgery, Cardiology and Heart Lung Transplant, Division of Sports Medicine, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital IRCCS, 00165 Rome, Italy
Ugo Giordano: Department of Cardiac Surgery, Cardiology and Heart Lung Transplant, Division of Sports Medicine, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital IRCCS, 00165 Rome, Italy
Isabella Guzzo: Kidney Transplant Follow-Up Unit, Division of Nephrology, Department of Pediatrics, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital IRCCS, 00165 Rome, Italy
Raffaella Labbadia: Kidney Transplant Follow-Up Unit, Division of Nephrology, Department of Pediatrics, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital IRCCS, 00165 Rome, Italy
Stefano Palermi: Public Health Department, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy
Claudia Cerulli: Unit of Physical Exercise and Sport Sciences, Department of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome Foro Italico, 00135 Rome, Italy
Manila Candusso: Hepatology, Gastroenterology, Nutrition and Liver transplantation Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital IRCCS, 00165 Rome, Italy
Marco Spada: Division of Abdominal Transplantation and Hepato-Bilio-Pancreatic Surgery, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital IRCCS, 00165 Rome, Italy
Lucilla Ravà: Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital IRCCS, 00165, Rome, Italy
Federica Gentili: Department of Cardiac Surgery, Cardiology and Heart Lung Transplant, Division of Sports Medicine, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital IRCCS, 00165 Rome, Italy
Fabrizio Drago: Paediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Arrhythmias Unit, Department of Cardiac Surgery, Cardiology and Heart Lung Transplant, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital IRCCS, 00165 Rome, Italy
Attilio Turchetta: Department of Cardiac Surgery, Cardiology and Heart Lung Transplant, Division of Sports Medicine, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital IRCCS, 00165 Rome, Italy

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 2, 1-10

Abstract: Background: Advances in the medical–surgical field have significantly increased survival after solid organ transplantation in the pediatric population. However, these patients are predisposed to the development of long-term complications (e.g., cardiovascular disease). The therapeutic role of physical activity (PA) to counteract these complications is well known. The purpose of the study was to investigate the level of PA in a pediatric population after solid organ transplantation. Methods: In the first 4 weeks at the beginning of the school year, the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Older Children and Adolescents was administered to young patients who had previously undergone solid transplants at our institute. Results: Questionnaires of 49 patients (57.1% female, mean age 13.2 ± 3.5 years) were analyzed and 32.7% of subjects did not perform any exercise during school physical education classes. Only 24% practiced a moderate quantity of exercise in the previous week (2–3 times/week) and 72% engaged in sedentary behaviors during weekends. Conclusions: Preliminary data confirmed that young recipients are still far from meeting the minimum indications of the World Health Organization on PA and sedentary behavior. It will be necessary to increase their involvement in PA programs in order not only to increase their life expectancy but also to improve their quality of life.

Keywords: transplant; children; physical exercise; health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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