Effects Of High Intensity Interval Training On Patient-reported Outcomes And Physical Function During Anthracycline Chemotherapy

Abstract

PURPOSE: Breast cancer patients treated with anthracycline chemotherapy experience negative anthracycline-related side effects, including poor quality of life and impaired physical function. However, it is unclear whether high intensity interval training (HIIT) improves quality of life and physical function in breast cancer patients undergoing anthracycline-based chemotherapy. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of HIIT on patient-reported outcomes and physical function in breast cancer patients with anthracycline-based chemotherapy. METHODS: Thirty breast cancer patients were recruited prior to initiating anthracycline-based chemotherapy and randomized into the HIIT group (n=15) or control (CON) group (n=15). The HIIT group attended the HIIT session for 3 days per week for 8 weeks. The CON group was asked to maintain their current level of physical activity and offered the same HIIT intervention after the 8-week study period. Patient-reported outcomes were assessed by the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast Cancer (FACT-B), Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory with 20 questions (MFI-20), andthe 15-item Five-Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ-15). Physical function was assessed using the timed up and go (TUG), 30-second sit-to-stand (30STS), Margaria-Kalamen stair climb test, and 6-minute walk test (6MWT). Repeated measures ANCOVA and paired t-tests were performed to assess changes in the outcome measures. RESULTS: Thirty breast cancer patients completed the 8-week study with 82.3% adherence to the intervention among the HIIT group. Post-intervention, significant improvements were found for the functional Margaria-Kalamen Power Test (-3.39%; P=0.013) and 6MWT (+11.6%; P=0.008) in the HIIT group compared baseline and to the CON group. No changes in patient-reported outcomes, TUG, and 30STS were found following the 8-week study period in both groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: HIIT may be an effective strategy to improve physical function and possibly maintain quality of life in breast cancer patients undergoing the anthracycline-based chemotherapy.