A RECENT pilot study highlighted the potential benefits of digital health interventions in improving physical recovery for patients with primary liver cancer (PLC) following hepatectomy. PLC, which includes hepatocellular carcinoma and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, is associated with high morbidity and often requires extensive liver surgery. While surgical advances have enhanced survival, many patients experience fatigue and reduced physical function after discharge, impacting quality of life and daily activities.
Traditionally, post-surgical rehabilitation support has been limited to the perioperative period, with patients often facing difficulties in exercise adherence at home. To address this, researchers developed a digital health rehabilitation programme tailored for patients recovering from hepatectomy. Delivered via mobile devices, the programme provided health education, real-time exercise monitoring, and personalised rehabilitation support.
In the trial, patients were randomly assigned to either the digital health intervention group or a control group receiving conventional manual-based exercise guidance. Over a three-week period, the digital health group showed a significant improvement in cardiopulmonary fitness, as measured by the six-minute walk distance (6MWD), with an average increase of 70.21 metres (95% CI 0.730–82.869; P=.05) compared to the control group. This improvement aligns with the lower threshold for clinical significance, suggesting meaningful health benefits.
Although secondary outcomes, such as upper and lower limb muscle strength and fatigue levels, did not reach statistical significance, slight improvements were observed in grip strength and functional mobility in the digital health group. Researchers noted that with sustained use, these benefits may become more pronounced over time.
Importantly, exercise adherence was significantly higher in the digital health group, reinforcing the value of mobile-based platforms in supporting post-surgical rehabilitation. This study marks an important step toward integrating digital health into routine liver cancer care, offering a scalable solution to improve recovery outcomes and enhance patient engagement in rehabilitation.
Reference
Yu K, Yin B, Zhu Y, et al. Efficacy of a digital postoperative rehabilitation intervention in patients with primary liver cancer: randomized controlled trial. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth. 2025;13:e59228.
