Explore Weight Post Heart Transplantation Study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Exploring the relationship between BMI and nutritional behaviour with physical activity, health status and self-efficacy in a post heart transplant population: A cross sectional single centre study
IRAS ID
220391
Contact name
Shashi Hirani
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
City, University of London
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Heart transplantation (HTx) surgery is a lifesaving treatment for patients with end stage heart failure. Post HTx weight gain is a widely reported phenomenon and is a known risk factor of high blood pressure, diabetes and raised blood lipids. The literature attributes this weight gain to the use of steroids post HTx; however this cannot be an isolated cause as not all patients gain weight and steroid dosage has reduced significantly. There is currently a lack of literature on the attributing factors to weight gain in this population.
The aim of this study is to find associations between obesogenic factors and higher BMI post HTx. The obesogenic factors chosen are based on a model of four broad themes(nutrition, physical activity, psychology and biology) produced by the UK Governments Foresight's Report on tackling obesity (2007).In a cross sectional design, post HTx participants at Harefield Hospital will be asked to complete a one off series of validated questionnaires (30-45minutes) that are thought to capture ‘obesogenic factors' which include nutritional knowledge and intake, eating behaviour trait, self-regulation of eating, physical activity, self-efficacy of weight maintenance and health status.
Eligible participants include those that are at least 1 year post HTx, over 18 years of age and can give written informed consent. Participants will be excluded if their life expectancy of less than one year, have a current diagnosis of a malignant cancer or a condition (non-HTx related) that is adversely affecting participant’s weight and overall status and those who have been an inpatients at the study hospital site for longer than 5 days.
If specific associations for weight gain are identified for higher BMI we can aim to target these factors as a multidisciplinary team (MDT – dietitian, psychologist, occupational therapist, physiotherapist and pharmacist) pre-transplant in order to address weight gain in the first instance.
REC name
West Midlands - Black Country Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/WM/0085
Date of REC Opinion
3 Mar 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion