Daily physical activity and quality of life in patients with left ventricular assist devices.

The relationship between the physical activity status of patients with left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) and their quality of life (QOL) remains unclear. The aim of this study was to determine the association between physical activity status and QOL and to identify the factors influencing walking activity time in LVAD patients. Thirty outpatients with LVAD were included. Physical activity was measured using a triaxial accelerometer. QOL was assessed using the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ). Multiple regression analysis was used to examine the relationship between QOL and activity duration. Physical activity measurement revealed that sedentary behavior of 1.5 metabolic equivalents or less accounted for 72.6% of total activity time. The KCCQ was positively correlated with walking activity time (r = 0.60, p = 0.0005), but not with daily activity time (r = 0.12, p = 0.55). Regression analysis revealed that regular employment (p = 0.0013), low depression score (p = 0.0005), low C-reactive protein level (p = 0.016), and high peak oxygen uptake (p = 0.019) was associated with increased walking activity time. LVAD patients had low physical activity, and walking activity time was significantly associated with their QOL. Comprehensive management may play an important role in improving the QOL in LVAD patients.