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Changes in exercise capacity, quality of life and fatigue in cancer patients during an intervention
Author(s) -
Banzer W.,
Bernhörster M.,
Schmidt K.,
Niederer D.,
Lungwitz A.,
Thiel C.,
Jäger E.,
Vogt L.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
european journal of cancer care
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.849
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1365-2354
pISSN - 0961-5423
DOI - 10.1111/ecc.12201
Subject(s) - medicine , cancer related fatigue , quality of life (healthcare) , physical therapy , cancer , aerobic exercise , adjuvant therapy , psychological intervention , nursing
The study explored the interdependence of changes in oxygen uptake, quality of life and cancer‐related side‐effect fatigue during a 4‐month exercise intervention. Participants were during adjuvant (curative) or palliative therapy and post‐adjuvant therapy (finished within the previous 12 months). Aerobic exercise capacity ( VO 2 peak), quality of life and fatigue symptom ( EORTC QLQ ‐ C 30) were obtained in 101 cancer patients (30–77 years). After initial examination, patients participated in supervised and/or home‐based training interventions. Patients were re‐examined after 16–20 weeks and stratified into 3 subgroups (terciles) with respect to the absolute change in VO 2 peak. The ANCOVA , with significant covariate effect for pretest fatigue score ( F (5,101) = 8.150, P < 0.001), indicated significant differences between groups in outcome measures ( P < 0.001). Based on the absolute change of VO 2 peak (1.9 ± 1.7; 1.8 ± 0.8; 5.7 ± 2.8 ml/kg/min) there were significant differences in the quality of life improvement (17.2 ± 15.1 vs. 4.8 ± 22.0 points, P < 0.05) and cancer‐related fatigue reduction (−6.1 ± 30.7; −11.5 ± 20.9; −21.2 ± 21.4 points) between upper and lower tercile. The findings point towards a relationship of exercise capacity enhancement, quality of life improvement and fatigue symptom reduction during and shortly after cancer treatment.