OA 11.02 Exercise Improves Functional Capacity in Patients with Advance Stage Lung Cancer

Abstract

Identifying key issues for patients with lung cancer is central to assessing quality of life (QOL). Gralla el al described in 2014 a five rated issues which were: maintaining independence, ability to perform normal daily activities, ability to sleep, not being a burden for caregivers and not being fatigued. Studies have shown that patients with advanced lung cancer have a decline in functional capacity from diagnosed and during treatment. Studies examining physical exercise in patients with lung cancer have indicated increased physical capacity, functional capacity and muscular capacity, but no unambiguously significant improvements in QOL. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of an exercise intervention for patients with advanced stage lung cancer. Eligible patients >18 years with a WHO performance status 0-2 with stage IIIb-IV NSCLC and SCLC-ED who were undergoing chemotherapy at the Department of Oncology University Hospital Copenhagen were randomized to standard care or a 12 week physical and psycho-social intervention. Aerobic capacity (VO2peak), functional capacity (6MWD) and QOL (FACT-L) were measured at baseline and 12 weeks. A total of 218 patients met the inclusion criteria and were randomized. There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics between the groups. There was a significant improvement in 6MWD in both groups, improvement in intervention was 41.1 m and improvement in control was 16.5 m. There were no significant differences between-groups in overall QOL (FACT-L) although there was a significant improvement in groups in overall QOL (FACT-L), Physical wellbeing, Emotional wellbeing, Trial Outcome Index for the intervention group. There was a significant difference between groups in the subscale Social Wellbeing (FACT-L) P=<0.04. The results of this study demonstrate that functional capacity (6MWD) improves during a 12 week period for patients with advanced stage lung cancer. The improvements in both groups indicate an effect of chemotherapy on functional capacity however the significantly higher improvement in the intervention group indicate a further effect of the exercise intervention. The in-group improvement in QOL in the intervention group indicate a link between an incline in functional capacity and the QOL.