Study of Functional Health and Frailty in Adults With Liver Disease Awaiting Transplant

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are conducting a prospective observational study involving patients with liver disease who are candidates for liver transplantation. The study aims to assess frailty, functional status, and disability over time to understand how these factors relate to outcomes before and after liver transplant. This research also explores quality of life, personality, and cognitive function in these patients. Participants will undergo assessments at baseline and each clinic visit before transplant, continuing through 12 months post-transplant, followed by annual follow-up visits. The evaluations include functional tests like grip strength, chair stands, balance, and gait speed, along with questionnaires on cognitive function and quality of life. Laboratory test results from medical records will also be collected, and a subgroup of up to 1000 patients will provide additional blood, urine, stool samples, and tissue collected during surgery. Throughout the study, participants will complete cognitive tests and functional assessments to measure frailty and physical function using the Liver Frailty Index. Researchers will use these measurements to examine associations with patient outcomes before and after transplant. The total participation may last several years, allowing long-term monitoring of frailty changes and functional status in liver transplant candidates.

Functional Assessment in Liver Transplantation