Feasibility of Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program for Lung Cancer Patient Receiving Radiation Therapy

Abstract

<h3>Research Objectives</h3> To confirm the feasibility of an outpatient-based pulmonary rehabilitation program in lung cancer patients receiving radiation therapy. <h3>Design</h3> Retrospective chart review. <h3>Setting</h3> Tertiary referral hospital. <h3>Participants</h3> - Patients with lung cancer who had undergone radiation therapy - Between July 2019 and December 2019 - Total number of patients was 40. <h3>Interventions</h3> Outpatient-based pulmonary rehabilitation program - Eight sessions, 60 minutes per session, twice a week, four consecutive weeks in duration - Under the supervision and guidance of a physical therapist - Physical therapist monitored side effect including fatigue, breathing difficulty, muscle pain, etc. - Each session consisting of warm-up (10 minutes), strengthening exercise (20 minutes / Squats, bridge exercise, bird dog exercise and leg lowering drill / Intensity of 13-15 points of RPE (Rating of perceived exertion), Aerobic exercise (20 minutes / Using fixed cycle / Intensity in the range of 65-85% of maximum heart rate based on age with 13-15 point intensity according to the Borg scale) and cool-down (10 minutes). <h3>Main Outcome Measures</h3> - Adherence rate of the pulmonary rehabilitation program - Any adverse event related to PR program - 6-minute walk test (6MWT), a grip strength test (before and after PR) - EORTC-QLQ-C30 Questionnaire (before and after PR) - Self-report questionnaire with a 7-point Likert scale on six items. <h3>Results</h3> - 29 patients (72.5%) completed PR program - Mean distance of 6MWT was statistically increased from 423.0m to 454.5m - A grip strength test did not show significant improvement in the dominant hand - Among Self-report questionnaire items, overall satisfaction was 5.7 ± 1.1 - Among EORTC-QLQ-30, social functioning score showed improvement with statistically significance and other items did not show significant difference - No adverse events related to PR were reported. <h3>Conclusions</h3> Four-week outpatient-based PR program for lung cancer patients receiving outpatient-based radiation therapy is feasible without serious adverse effects. And this program might improve patients' physical function and quality of life. <h3>Author(s) Disclosures</h3> All authors have nothing to disclose.