EXPLORE EXERCISE LEVEL AND PREFERENCES IN PANCREATIC CANCER PATIENTS

Abstract

A large percentage of pancreatic cancer (PC) patients can suffer from cachexia, a syndrome characterized by an ongoing loss of skeletal muscle mass, with or without fat mass. This condition leads to reduced muscle strength, which further worsen functional capacity. Exercise (EX) could be a potential measure to counteract the loss of functional capacity, nevertheless most of cancer patients are insufficiently active. PURPOSE: Investigate the EX level, interest and preferences in PC patients. METHODS: An anonymously survey was performed on a representative sample of PC patients at the Oncology Unit of Verona Hospital. The questionnaire assessed demographic, clinical characteristics and EX behavior, using the Leisure Score Index (LSI) from Godin’s Leisure Time Exercise Questionnaire. The items regarding EX preferences and interest were drawn from previous researches. A descriptive analysis, presented as mean/medians for continuous variables and frequencies/percentages for categorical variables, was used. RESULTS: 173 questionnaires were completed (58% response rate). The median age of subjects was 60 years old, 54% was male, 41% had completed high school. Medical information indicated that 52% had a metastatic disease and 86% were on active treatment. Only 11% of patients resulted sufficiently active (LSI ≥24), but among 82% were willing to start a specific EX program. Patients prefer receive EX information by oncologist (54%), followed by kinesiologist (23%), with a face to face approach (66%). PC patients chose to EX with “other cancer patients” (25%) or alone (17%). Subjects picked outdoors (28%) and at home (23%) as favourite places to perform EX. PC patients prefer to train two (31%) or three (36%) times/week, at light (45%) or moderate (40%) intensity. 31% of patients indicated to prefer an individual program to perform at home, 29% a training group with a kinesiologist, while 25% chose an individual program with a personal trainer. CONCLUSION: We found a small portion of PC patients active, a large interest to EX and a heterogeneity regarding the EX preferences. This underline the urgency to promote EX in this population and suggest that different EX program options should be considered to optimize compliance and adherence. This study is the first step to planning a specific EX program designed for PC patients.