Effects of presurgical exercise training on cardiorespiratory fitness among patients undergoing thoracic surgery for malignant lung lesions

Video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy: which patients require postoperative physiotherapy?

OBJECTIVES

Following major thoracic surgery physiotherapy is recommended to improve reduced lung volume, aid secretion clearance, and improve mobility, however, in many centres physiotherapy provision is variable following minimally invasive video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). The objective of this study was to observe frequency of problems potentially amenable to physiotherapy following VATS lobectomy, and to identify associated baseline factors of patients in whom physiotherapy may be beneficial.

METHODS

A prospective observational study was performed including all consecutive cancer patients undergoing VATS lobectomy in a regional centre over 4years (2012-2016). Standard postoperative care included early mobilisation by nursing staff from postoperative day one (POD1). Physiotherapy assessment of all patients on POD1 determined presence of issues potentially amenable to physiotherapy intervention, and treatment was commenced. Outcome measures included postoperative pulmonary complication (PPC) development, hospital and high dependency unit (HDU) length of stay (LOS).

RESULTS

Of 285 patients, 209 (73%) received physiotherapy to assist/improve reduced mobility, of these 23 (8%) also received sputum clearance therapies and 65 (23%) specific therapy for lung volume loss. The remaining 76 (27%) patients had significantly lower hospital/HDU LOS (P<0.001) reflecting uncomplicated recovery. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), body mass index (BMI), preoperative mobility and age were independently associated with issues potentially amenable to physiotherapy (P=0.013).

CONCLUSION

Following VATS lobectomy a large proportion of patients demonstrated issues potentially amenable to physiotherapy. The authors recommend that patients receive routine physiotherapy assessment following this type of surgery to ensure that all issues are identified early. Screening of COPD, BMI, preoperative mobility and age will allow early identification of patients who may benefit most from postoperative physiotherapy and preoperative optimisation, however, these factors cannot predict the need for physiotherapy.

Precision-Exercise-Prescription in patients with lung cancer undergoing surgery: rationale and design of the PEP study trial

INTRODUCTION

Lung cancer is a significant burden on societies worldwide, and the most common cause of death in patients with cancer overall. Exercise intervention studies in patients with lung cancer have consistently shown benefits with respect to physical and emotional functioning. However, to date, exercise training has not been consistently implemented into clinical practice given that interventions have been costly and not aligned with clinical care.

METHODS/DESIGN

The Precision-Exercise-Prescription (PEP) study is a prospective randomised controlled trial comparing the effectiveness and feasibility of a personalised intervention exercise programme among patients with lung cancer undergoing surgery. Two-hundred patients who are diagnosed with stage primary or secondary lung cancer and are eligible to undergo surgical treatment at Huntsman Cancer Institute comprise the target population. Patients are randomised to either the (1) outpatient precision-exercise intervention group or (2) delayed intervention group. The intervention approach uses Motivation and Problem Solving, a hybrid behavioural treatment based on motivational interviewing and practical problem solving. The dosage of the exercise intervention is personalised based on the individual's Activity Measure for Post-Acute-Care outpatient basic mobility score, and incorporates four exercise modes: mobility, callisthenics, aerobic and resistance. Exercise is implemented by physical therapists at study visits from presurgery until 6 months postsurgery. The primary endpoint is the level of physical function assessed by 6 min walk distance at 2 months postsurgery. Secondary outcomes include patient-reported outcomes (eg, quality of life, fatigue and self-efficacy) and other clinical outcomes, including length of stay, complications, readmission, pulmonary function and treatment-related costs up to 6 months postsurgery.

ETHICS/DISSEMINATION

The PEP study will test the clinical effectiveness and feasibility of a personalised exercise intervention in patients with lung cancer undergoing surgery. Outcomes of this clinical trial will be presented at national and international conferences and symposia and will be published in international, peer-reviewed journals. Ethics approval was obtained at the University of Utah (IRB 00104671).

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT03306992.

Effect of Exercise and Nutrition Prehabilitation on Functional Capacity in Esophagogastric Cancer Surgery: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Importance

Preserving functional capacity is a key element in the care continuum for patients with esophagogastric cancer. Prehabilitation, a preoperative conditioning intervention aiming to optimize physical status, has not been tested in upper gastrointestinal surgery to date.

Objective

To investigate whether prehabilitation is effective in improving functional status in patients undergoing esophagogastric cancer resection.

Design, Setting, and Participants

A randomized clinical trial (available-case analysis based on completed assessments) was conducted at McGill University Health Centre (Montreal, Quebec, Canada) comparing prehabilitation with a control group. Intervention consisted of preoperative exercise and nutrition optimization. Participants were adults awaiting elective esophagogastric resection for cancer. The study dates were February 13, 2013, to February 10, 2017.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The primary outcome was change in functional capacity, measured with absolute change in 6-minute walk distance (6MWD). Preoperative (end of the prehabilitation period) and postoperative (from 4 to 8 weeks after surgery) data were compared between groups.

Results

Sixty-eight patients were randomized, and 51 were included in the primary analysis. The control group were a mean (SD) age, 68.0 (11.6) years and 20 (80%) men. Patients in the prehabilitation group were a mean (SD) age, 67.3 (7.4) years and 18 (69%) men. Compared with the control group, the prehabilitation group had improved functional capacity both before surgery (mean [SD] 6MWD change, 36.9 [51.4] vs -22.8 [52.5] m; P < .001) and after surgery (mean [SD] 6MWD change, 15.4 [65.6] vs -81.8 [87.0] m; P < .001).

Conclusions and Relevance

Prehabilitation improves perioperative functional capacity in esophagogastric surgery. Keeping patients from physical and nutritional status decline could have a significant effect on the cancer care continuum.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01666158.

Trends in Nonoperative Treatment Modalities Prior to Cervical Surgery and Impact on Patient-Derived Outcomes: Two-Year Analysis of 1522 Patients From the Prospective Spine Treatment Outcome Study

Background

Effects of nonoperative treatments on surgical outcomes for patients who failed conservative management for cervical spine pathologies remain unknown. The objective is to describe conservative modality use in patients indicated for surgery for degenerative cervical spine conditions and its impact on perioperative outcomes.

Methods

The current study comprises a retrospective review of a prospective multicenter database. A total of 1522 patients with 1- to 2-level degenerative cervical pathology who were undergoing surgical intervention were included. Outcome measures used were health-related quality-of-life scores, length of hospitalization, estimated blood loss, length of surgery, and return-to-work status at 2 weeks, 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years postoperatively. Patients were grouped by diagnosis (radiculopathy vs. myelopathy), then divided based on epidural injection(s), physical therapy (PT), or opioid use prior to enrollment. Univariate t-tests and χ² tests were performed to determine differences between groups and impact on outcomes.

Results

Among 1319 radiculopathy patients, 25.7% received preoperative epidural injections, 35.3% received PT, and 35.5% received opioids. Radiculopathy patients who received epidurals and PT had higher 1-year postoperative return-to-work rates (P < .05). Radiculopathy patients without preoperative PT had longer hospitalization times, whereas those who received PT had higher 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) physical functioning and physical component scores, lower 2-year visual analog scale (VAS) neck/arm pain scores, and higher 2-year return-to-work incidence (P < .05). Of myelopathy patients (n = 203), 14.8% received epidural injections, 25.1% received opioids, and 41.5% received PT. Myelopathy patients with preoperative PT had worse VAS arm pain scores 2 years postoperatively (P < .05). Patients receiving opioids were younger and had greater baseline-2-year Neck Disability Index improvement (P < .05).

Conclusions

Radiculopathy patients receiving epidurals returned to work after 1 year more frequently. PT was associated with shorter hospitalizations, greater SF-36 bodily pain norm and physical component score improvements, and increased return-to-work rates after 1 and 2 years. No statistically significant nonoperative treatment was associated with return-to-work rate in myelopathy patients.

Clinical Relevance

These findings suggest certain preoperative conservative treatment modalities are associated with improved outcomes in radiculopathy patients.

Prehabilitation in thoracic surgery

Surgical resection remains the best treatment option for patients with early stage of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, it may be responsible of postoperative complication and mortality, especially in patients with impaired pulmonary function. Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) programs have been focused mainly in minimal invasive surgery approach during lung resection and respiratory rehabilitation after surgery. Preoperative exercise-based intervention (prehabilitation) has demonstrated reduction of morbi-mortality in other surgeries but in thoracic surgery continues to be under discussion. Cardio-pulmonary exercise test (CPET) is the gold standard technique to predict postoperative morbi-mortality. The implementation of a preoperative respiratory rehabilitation could optimize patient's physical capacity before surgery and improve outcomes and enhance recovery. The aim of this systematic review of the literature is to identify the effectiveness and safety of prehabilitation programs in thoracic surgery, the type of exercise and its duration, and the group of patients with best benefit. Prehabilitation is a safe intervention without side effects in patients. High-intensity interval training (HIT) with duration of 2 to 6 weeks seems to be the best exercise programme in a prehabilitation intervention but it exists heterogeneity in terms of intensity and duration. Prehabilitation increase exercise capacity and significantly enhances pulmonary function. But the reduction of postoperative complication and mortality has not been clearly demonstrated. Different criteria selection, type of intervention and small sample size, in addition to no randomization, could justify disparate results. It seems that not all patients can benefit from prehabilitation and it could be indicated only in patients with impaired lung function. Further randomized clinical trials with enough patients, correct duration of HIT (2 to 6 weeks) and focused in COPD patients are needed to clarify the suitability of prehabilitation. Meanwhile, safety of prehabilitation and good results of some studies support this intervention in high-risk patients.

Protocol, and practical challenges, for a randomised controlled trial comparing the impact of high intensity interval training against standard care before major abdominal surgery: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Risk factors, such as the number of pre-existing co-morbidities, the extent of the underlying pathology and the magnitude of the required operation, cannot be changed before surgery. It may, however, be possible to improve the cardiopulmonary fitness of the patient with an individualised exercise program. We are performing a randomised controlled trial (RCT) assessing the impact of High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) on preoperative cardiopulmonary fitness and postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing major abdominal surgery.

METHODS

Consecutive eligible patients undergoing elective abdominal surgery are being randomised to HIIT or standard care in a 1:1 ratio. Participants allocated to HIIT will perform 14 exercise sessions on a stationary cycle ergometer, over a period of 4-6 weeks before surgery. The sessions, which are individualised, aim to start with ten repeated 1-min blocks of intense exercise with a target of reaching a heart rate exceeding 90% of the age predicted maximum, followed by 1 min of lower intensity cycling. As endurance improves, the duration of exercise is increased to achieve five 2-min intervals of high intensity exercise followed by 2 min of lower intensity cycling. Each training session lasts approximately 30 min. The primary endpoint, change in peak oxygen consumption (Peak VO2) measured during cardiopulmonary exercise testing, is assessed at baseline and before surgery. Secondary endpoints include postoperative complications, length of hospital stay and three clinically validated scores: the surgical recovery scale; the postoperative morbidity survey; and the SF-36 quality of life score. The standard deviation for changes in Peak VO2 will be assessed after the first 30 patients and will be used to calculate the required sample size.

DISCUSSION

We want to assess if 14 sessions of HIIT is sufficient to improve Peak VO2 by 2 mL/kg/min in patients undergoing major abdominal surgery and to explore the best clinical endpoint for a subsequent RCT designed to assess if improving Peak VO2 will translate into improving clinical outcomes after surgery.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, ACTRN12617000587303 . Registered on 26 April 2017.

Changes in Health-Related Quality of Life During Rehabilitation in Patients With Operable Lung Cancer: A Feasibility Study (PROLUCA)

INTRODUCTION

Surgical resection in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) may be associated with significant morbidity, functional limitations, and decreased quality of life.

OBJECTIVES

The objective is to present health-related quality of life (HRQoL) changes over time before and 1 year after surgery in patients with NSCLC participating in a rehabilitation program.

METHODS

Forty patients with NSCLC in disease stage I to IIIa, referred for surgical resection at the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery RT, Rigshospitalet, were included in the study. The rehabilitation program comprised supervised group exercise program, 2 hours weekly for 12 weeks, combined with individual counseling. The study endpoints were self-reported HRQoL (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Lung, European Organization for Research and Treatment in Cancer-Quality of Life Questionnaire-QLQ-C30, Short-Form-36) and self-reported distress, anxiety, depression, and social support (National Comprehensive Cancer Network Distress Thermometer, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support), measured presurgery, postintervention, 6 months, and 1 year after surgery.

RESULTS

Forty patients were included, 73% of whom completed rehabilitation. Results on emotional well-being ( P < .0001), global quality of life ( P = .0032), and mental health component score ( P = .0004) showed an overall statistically significant improvement during the study.

CONCLUSION

This feasibility study demonstrated that global quality of life, mental health, and emotional well-being improved significantly during the study, from time of diagnosis until 1 year after resection, in patients with NSCLC participating in rehabilitation.

Exercise prehabilitation in elective intra-cavity surgery: A role within the ERAS pathway? A narrative review

The Enhanced Recovery after Surgery (ERAS) model integrates several elements of perioperative care into a standardised clinical pathway for surgical patients. ERAS programmes aim to reduce the rate of complications, improve surgical recovery, and limit postoperative length of hospital stay (LOHS). One area of growing interest that is not currently included within ERAS protocols is the use of exercise prehabilitation (PREHAB) interventions. PREHAB refers to the systematic process of improving functional capacity of the patient to withstand the upcoming physiological stress of surgery. A number of recent systematic reviews have examined the role of PREHAB prior to elective intra-cavity surgery. However, the results have been conflicting and a definitive conclusion has not been obtained. Furthermore, a summary of the research area focussing exclusively on the therapeutic potential of exercise prior to intra-cavity surgery is yet to be undertaken. Clarification is required to better inform perioperative care and advance the research field. Therefore, this "review of reviews" provides a critical overview of currently available evidence on the effect of exercise PREHAB in patients undergoing i) coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG), ii) lung resection surgery, and iii) gastrointestinal and colorectal surgery. We discuss the findings of systematic reviews and meta-analyses and supplement these with recently published clinical trials. This article summarises the research findings and identifies pertinent gaps in the research area that warrant further investigation. Finally, studies are conceptually synthesised to discuss the feasibility of PREHAB in clinical practice and its potential role within the ERAS pathway.

Nutritional status and muscle dysfunction in chronic respiratory diseases: stable phase versus acute exacerbations

Nutritional abnormalities are frequent in different chronic respiratory diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), bronchiectasis, cystic fibrosis (CF), interstitial fibrosis and lung cancer, having important clinical consequences. However, nutritional abnormalities often remained underdiagnosed due to the relative lack of awareness of health professionals. Therefore, systematic anthropometry or even better, assessment of body composition, should be performed in all patients with chronic respiratory conditions, especially following exacerbation periods when malnutrition becomes more accentuated. Nutritional abnormalities very often include the loss of muscle mass, which is an important factor for the occurrence of muscle dysfunction. The latter can be easily detected with the specific assessment of muscle strength and endurance, and also negatively influences patients' quality of life and prognosis. Both nutritional abnormalities and muscle dysfunction result from the interaction of several factors, including tobacco smoking, low physical activity-sedentarism, systemic inflammation and the imbalance between energy supply and requirements, which essentially lead to a negative balance between protein breakdown and synthesis. Therapeutic approaches include improvements in lifestyle, nutritional supplementation and training. Anabolic drugs may be administered in some cases.

The key questions in rehabilitation in thoracic surgery

Enhancing the recovery of patients undergoing Thoracic Surgery is the raison d'être of a pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) process. Benefits of a PR program have been shown to include reduced postoperative complications, hospital length of stay (LOS) and improved exercise and lung function parameters. Identifying which groups of patients benefit most and the constituency of the perfect PR program is subject to ongoing research. Providing PR to patients in a manner acceptable to their lifestyle and disease timeline within economic limitations is the challenge.

Impact of prehabilitation on morbidity and mortality after pulmonary lobectomy by minimally invasive surgery: a cohort study

Background

Thoracic surgery is currently the optimal treatment for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, it may be responsible for numerous postoperative complications and is often used in patients with multi co morbidities. In recent years, the optimization of a patient's physical capacity before surgery has been the subject of several studies. The objective of this study was to determine whether participation in a prehabilitation program would improve outcomes after surgery and lower morbidity according to the Clavien-Dindo classification.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study was performed between 1st January 2014 and 31st January 2016 at Rouen University Hospital. All adult patients with NSCLC (IIIa or <) who had pulmonary lobectomy by minimally invasive surgery and cardiopulmonary exercise testing [CPET (VO2max ≤20 mL/min/kg)] were included.

Results

The cohort included 38 patients. Two groups were formed: one group with prehabilitation (n=19) and one group without prehabilitation (n=19). Four patients were not included leaving 34 patients for the final analysis. Most patients with a Clavien-Dindo grade of ≤2 had received prehabilitation compared to patients who had not received prehabilitation, respectively 17/19 vs. 8/15; P=0.0252. Patients who had received prehabilitation had fewer postoperative complications than patients who had not received prehabilitation, respectively 8/19 vs. 12/15; P=0.0382.

Conclusions

We have shown that prehabilitation has a positive impact on the occurrence and severity of postoperative complications after pulmonary lobectomy by minimally invasive surgery. Further studies conducted in larger populations are warranted to confirm these results.

Inspiratory muscle training is effective to reduce postoperative pulmonary complications and length of hospital stay: a systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE

This study systematically review and meta-analyse the effectiveness of inspiratory muscle training (IMT) to reduce postoperative pulmonary complications (PPC) and length of hospital stay (LOS), both in the preoperative and/or postoperative periods of cardiac, pulmonary, and abdominal surgical patients. Sensitive analysis was performed to examine which patients benefit more from IMT according to methodological features (quality of studies and sample size), patient's characteristics (pulmonary risk stratification, age, and body mass index), type of surgery, period of training, and training protocols (training doses and level of supervision).

METHODS

The literature search was made in the electronic databases PubMed®, EBSCO, Web of Science^®, PEDro and Scopus^®. Only randomized controlled trials were included. Data extraction, quality assessment and meta-analysis were performed.

RESULTS

We included 17 randomized controlled trials in the systematic review, of which, 12 were included for the PPC meta-analysis and 11 for the LOS meta-analysis. IMT significantly reduced the risk of PPC (Risk Ratio (RR) = 0.50, 95%CI: 0.39, 0.64, I²=0.0%), and a decrease in LOS (Mean Difference = -1.41, 95%CI: -2.07, -0.75, I² = 0.0%).

CONCLUSION

IMT is effective to reduce PPC and LOS in patients undergoing surgery. Implications for Rehabilitation Physiotherapy interventions with inspiratory muscle training (IMT) are effective to reduce postoperative pulmonary complications (PPC) and length of hospital stay (LOS) after major surgery, and should start preoperatively. Rehabilitation with IMT is beneficial at all ages and risk levels, but older and high-risk patients benefit more, as well as pulmonary surgery patients. IMT is more effective if it is supervised, and prescription target at least two-week period, sessions with more than 15 minutes, with imposed load increment, and adding other exercise modes.

Exercise Therapy and Cardiovascular Toxicity in Cancer

Cardio-oncology is an emerging discipline focused predominantly on the detection and management of cancer treatment-induced cardiac dysfunction (cardiotoxicity), which predisposes to development of overt heart failure or coronary artery disease. The direct adverse consequences, as well as those secondary to anticancer therapeutics, extend beyond the heart, however, to affect the entire cardiovascular-skeletal muscle axis (ie, whole-organism cardiovascular toxicity). The global nature of impairment creates a strong rationale for treatment strategies that augment or preserve global cardiovascular reserve capacity. In noncancer clinical populations, exercise training is an established therapy to improve cardiovascular reserve capacity, leading to concomitant reductions in cardiovascular morbidity and its attendant symptoms. Here, we overview the tolerability and efficacy of exercise on cardiovascular toxicity in adult patients with cancer. We also propose a conceptual research framework to facilitate personalized risk assessment and the development of targeted exercise prescriptions to optimally prevent or manage cardiovascular toxicity after a cancer diagnosis.

A comprehensive protocol for physiokinesis therapy and enhanced recovery after surgery in patients undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery lobectomy

Background

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) lobectomy has recently been adopted as the gold standard surgical option for the treatment of early stage non-small cell lung cancer. Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) is being progressively adopted in thoracic surgery to improve the postoperative outcomes. Even if the benefits of ERAS are universally accepted, to date a standardized and uniform approach has not been described in the medical literature. The Italian VATS group has recently proposed to include in the VATS lobectomy database a structured protocol for ERAS.

Methods

The ERAS section of the Italian VATS group is proposing a comprehensive ERAS protocol within the VATS lobectomy database, allowing the prospective collection of a dedicated set of data. Separate sections of the protocol are dedicated to different topics of ERAS. This study is specifically dedicated to the section of physiokinesis therapy. The medical literature will be extensively reviewed and a physiotherapy (PT) protocol of ERAS will be presented and discussed. A seta of structured clinical pathways will also be suggested for adoption in the VATS Group database.

Discussion

Pre- and post-operative adoption of an ERAS protocol in patients undergoing VATS lobectomy may promote an improved post-operative course, a shorter hospital stay and an overall more comfortable patients' experience. The mainstays of a physiokinesis therapy ERAS protocol are patients' education, constant physical and respiratory therapy sessions, and adoption of adequate devices. Although many studies have investigated the usefulness of physical and respiratory physiokinesis therapy, a comprehensive ERAS protocol for VATS lobectomy patients has not yet been described. The proposed ERAS platform, adopted by the VATS Group database, will contribute to a prospective data collection and allow a scientific analysis of the results.

Impact of the initial fitness level on the effects of a structured exercise therapy during pediatric stem cell transplantation

BACKGROUND

Before and after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), most patients suffer from psychophysical limitations due to the treatment. Exercise interventions demonstrate beneficial effects on, for example, strength, endurance, or health-related quality of life during and after HSCT, but with a great variation among patients concerning the response to exercise. This study examines the influence of the initial fitness on the effects of an exercise therapy in pediatric HSCT.

PROCEDURE

Fifty-three children and adolescents (10.9 ± 3.5 years) scheduled for HSCT were randomized into an exercise intervention group (IG) or a control group (CG). During hospitalization, the IG performed endurance, strength, and flexibility training three times per week. The CG included a nonexercise program. A 6-min walk test was completed before and after the inpatient period. Baseline results (6-min walking distance [6MWD]) were used to split both groups into the following: IG_UNFIT , n = 14; IG_FIT , n = 12; CG_UNFIT , n = 16; CG_FIT , n = 11. Differences in outcome changes between groups were analyzed with H-test.

RESULT

Intergroup comparison revealed significant differences between IG_UNFIT and CG_UNFIT (P < 0.05). The IG_UNFIT increased their 6MWD by +8% (vs. IG_FIT , +1%); both CGs presented a decline in 6MWD (CG_UNFIT , -14%; CG_FIT , -16%). At discharge, the IG_FIT achieved 85.5 ± 10.3% of healthy reference values.

CONCLUSIONS

The current results indicate that exercise during pediatric HSCT is feasible and contributes to prevention of treatment-related loss of physical function. As seen in healthy persons, patients' benefits might depend on their initial fitness level. As a diminished physical capability may result in higher training effects, impaired especially patients should engage in exercise.

Influence of preoperative life satisfaction on recovery and outcomes after colorectal cancer surgery - a prospective pilot study

Background

Colorectal surgery has an important impact on a patient’s quality of life, and postoperative rehabilitation shows large variations. To enhance the understanding of recovery after colorectal cancer, health-related quality of life has become a standard outcome measurement for clinical care and research. Therefore, we aimed to correlate the influence of preoperative global life satisfaction on subjective feelings of well-being with clinical outcomes after colorectal surgery.

Methods

In this pilot study of consecutive colorectal surgery patients, various dimensions of feelings of preoperative life satisfaction were assessed using a self-rated scale, which was validated in French. Both objective (length of stay and complications) and subjective (pain, subjective well-being and quality of sleep) indicators of recovery were evaluated daily during each patient’s hospital stay.

Results

A total of 112 patients were included. The results showed a negative relationship between life satisfaction and postoperative complications and a significant negative correlation with the length of stay. Moreover, a significant positive correlation between life satisfaction and the combined subjective indicators of recovery was observed.

Conclusion

We have shown the importance of positive preoperative mental states and global life satisfaction as characteristics that are associated with an improved recovery after colorectal surgery. Therefore, patients with a good level of life satisfaction may be better able to face the consequences of colorectal surgery, which is a relevant parameter in supportive cancer care.

Clinical guideline and recommendations on pre-operative exercise training in patients awaiting major non-cardiac surgery

Despite calls for the routine implementation of pre-operative exercise programmes to optimise patient fitness before elective major surgery, there is no practical guidance for providing safe and effective exercise in this specific context. The following clinical guideline was developed following a review of the evidence on the effects of pre-operative exercise interventions. We developed a series of best-practice and, where possible, evidence-based statements to advise on patient care with respect to exercise training in the peri-operative period. These statements cover: patient selection for exercise training in surgical patients; integration of exercise training into multi-modal prehabilitation programmes; and advice on exercise prescription factors and follow-up. Although we acknowledge that further research is needed to identify the optimal exercise prescription in different clinical scenarios, we urge peri-operative teams to make use of these recommendations.

Tai Chi Chuan in postsurgical non-small cell lung cancer patients: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Background

Impairment of exercise capacity remains a common adverse effect of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) survivors after surgery. Previous research has suggested that Tai Chi Chuan (TCC) offers an exercise capacity benefit in several types of cancers. This is a randomized trial to investigate the efficacy and safety of TCC in postoperative NSCLC patients over an observation period of 3 months and a 9-month follow-up.

Methods/design

Using a prospective, one center and randomized design, 120 subjects with histologically confirmed stage I–IIIA NSCLC following complete surgical resection will potentially be eligible for this trial. Following baseline assessments, eligible participants will be randomly assigned to one of two conditions: (1) TCC training, or (2) placebo control. The training sessions for both groups will last 60 min and take place three times a week for 3 months. The sessions will be supervised with target intensity of 60–80% of work capacity, dyspnea, and heart rate management. The primary study endpoint is peak oxygen consumption (VO_2peak), and the secondary endpoints include: 6-min walk distance (6MWD), health-related quality of life (HRQoL), lung function, immunity function, and the state of depression and anxiety. All endpoints will be assessed at the baseline and postintervention (3 months). A follow-up period of 9 months will be included. The main time points for the evaluation of clinical efficacy and safety will be months 3, 6, 9, and 12 after enrollment.

Discussion

This study will assess the effect of group TCC in postsurgery NSCLC survivors on VO_2peak, lung function, and other aspects. The results of this study will eventually provide clinical proof of the application of TCC as one kind of exercise training for patients across the entire NSCLC continuum, as well as information on the safety and feasibility of exercise.

Trial Registration

Chinese Clinical Trial Registry: ChiCTR-IOR-15006548. Registered on 12 June 2015.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13063-017-2320-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

How is physical activity measured in lung cancer?A systematic review of outcome measures and their psychometric properties

Physical activity (PA) levels are low in patients with lung cancer. Emerging evidence supports the use of interventions to increase PA in this population. We aimed to (1) identify and synthesize outcome measures which assess PA levels in patients with lung cancer and (2) to evaluate, synthesize and compare the psychometric properties of these measures. A systematic review of articles from searches was conducted of five electronic databases and personal records. Eligible studies were those which assessed PA using either performance-based or patient-reported measures. For aim 2, studies identified in aim 1 reporting on at least one psychometric property (validity, reliability, responsiveness or measurement error) were included. Two independent reviewers assessed eligibility and risk of bias with the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health status Measurement INstruments. Thirty-four studies using 21 different measures of PA were identified. Seventeen studies used performance-based measures. The Godin Leisure Time Exercise Questionnaire (GLTEQ) was the most frequently used patient-reported measure. Psychometric properties were reported for 13 of these measures and most frequently for movement sensors. Two studies reported on properties of the GLTEQ. Quality ratings for risk of bias were low. There is significant heterogeneity amongst studies regarding method of PA measurement along the lung cancer continuum. Greater consensus could be achieved by using a consensus approach such as a Delphi process. Future studies should include assessment of psychometric properties of the measurement tool being used. Currently, it is recommended where feasible, both performance-based and patient-reported measurements of PA should be undertaken.

Bench-to-Bedside Approaches for Personalized Exercise Therapy in Cancer

The past 2 decades have witnessed a growing body of work investigating the feasibility and efficacy of exercise therapy on a broad array of outcomes in many different oncology scenarios. Despite this heterogeneity, the exercise therapy prescription approach and the dose tested has been largely similar. Thus, current exercise therapy prescriptions in the oncology setting adopt a one-size-fits-all approach. In this article, we provide an overview of personalization of exercise therapy in cancer using the principles of training as an overarching framework. Specifically, we first review the fundamentals of exercise prescription in chronic disease before focusing attention on application of these principles to optimize the safety and efficacy of exercise therapy on (1) cancer treatment-induced cardiovascular toxicity and (2) tumor progression and metastasis.

Vigorous intensity aerobic interval exercise in bladder cancer patients prior to radical cystectomy: a feasibility randomised controlled trial

PURPOSE

Strategies to improve pre-operative cardiopulmonary fitness could positively impact recovery after surgery. This study investigated the feasibility of vigorous intensity aerobic interval exercise in bladder cancer patients prior to radical cystectomy (RC).

METHODS

A total of 60 patients were randomised (1:1) to exercise or control following a cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET). The exercise group was offered twice-weekly pre-operative supervised vigorous intensity aerobic interval exercise in addition to standard treatment. The controls received standard treatment only. A repeat CPET was undertaken before surgery and post-operative recovery outcomes were recorded.

RESULTS

Over half of the 112 eligible patients approached in the clinic were recruited to the study (53.5%), with recruited patients attending a median of 8 (range 1-10) exercise sessions over a pre-operative period of 3-6 weeks. Improvements in peak values of oxygen pulse (P = 0.001), minute ventilation (P = 0.002) and power output (P < 0.001) were observed at the follow-up CPET in the exercise group versus controls and there were no adverse events. Although this feasibility study was not powered to detect changes in post-operative recovery outcomes, there were marginal (non-significant) differences in favour of the exercise group in post-operative Clavien-Dindo score and need for high dependency unit inotropic support.

CONCLUSIONS

Bladder cancer patients respond well to pre-surgical aerobic interval exercise, and the improvements in cardiopulmonary fitness variables could have important implications for post-operative recuperation after RC. These findings provide a strong foundation for an adequately powered randomised controlled trial.

Intensive rehabilitation as an independent determinant of better outcome in patients with lung tumors treated by thoracic surgery

INTRODUCTION

The frequency of postoperative complications after thoracic surgery remains high. Rehabilitation may become a procedure characterized by a high cost-effectiveness ratio. The aim of the study was to determine the independent importance of intensive rehabilitation in patients with lung tumors treated by thoracic surgery.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The prospective observational study included two groups of patients: 187 patients treated according to the historical scheme including thoracic surgery without specific exercises improving cardio-pulmonary capacity, and 215 patients treated in agreement with the innovative algorithm of perioperative intensive physiotherapy until discharge from hospital. The evaluated clinical endpoints comprised bronchoscopy for pulmonary toilet and all other possible postoperative complications.

RESULTS

The use of intensive physiotherapy significantly shortened the duration of hospitalization through reducing the frequencies of different postoperative complications. The specific clinical benefit was associated with a significantly lower rate of bronchoscopy performance for pulmonary toilet (16% vs. 5.6%, p = 0.0006). Multivariate regression analyses revealed intensive physiotherapy as a significant independent predictor for all postoperative complications (OR = 0.57; 95% CI: 0.323-0.988; p = 0.045) and need to perform bronchoscopy for pulmonary toilet (OR = 0.24; 95% CI: 0.11-0.51; p = 0.0002).

CONCLUSIONS

The study showed the strong independent positive effect of intensive rehabilitation in patients with lung tumors treated by thoracic surgery.

Feasibility of Presurgical Exercise in Men With Prostate Cancer Undergoing Prostatectomy

BACKGROUND

Prostatectomy is associated with short- and long-term morbidity, which includes attenuation of muscle function and deterioration of lean body mass. Physical function is a known predictor of morbidity and mortality, with initial evidence indicating that presurgical exercise is associated with fewer postsurgical complications and shorter hospitalization. The aim was to determine the feasibility of a supervised presurgical exercise program for prostate cancer (PCa) patients scheduled for prostatectomy.

METHODS

Ten men (68+6.4 years old) with localized PCa undertook a 6-week resistance and aerobic exercise program prior surgery. Training was undertaken twice weekly and patients were assessed at baseline, presurgery, and 6 weeks postsurgery. Outcome measures included muscle and physical performance, body composition, urinary incontinence and questionnaire.

RESULTS

Muscle strength increased by 7.5% to 24.3% ( P < .05) from baseline to presurgery but decreased to pretraining levels postsurgery, except for knee extensor strength ( P = .247). There were significant improvements ( P < .05) in the 6-m fast walk (9.3%), 400-m walk (7.4%), and chair rise (12.3%) at presurgery. Following surgery, improvements in physical performance were maintained. There was no change in lean or fat mass prior to surgery, but lean mass declined by 2.7 kg ( P = .014) following surgery. There were no adverse effects from the exercise program.

CONCLUSIONS

Exercise undertaken prior to prostatectomy improved muscle and physical performance, with functional benefits maintained 6 weeks postsurgery. Presurgical exercise for PCa patients has the potential to facilitate recovery by improving physical reserve capacity, especially in men with poor muscle nd physical performance.

The effect of pre- and post-operative physical activity on recovery after colorectal cancer surgery (PHYSSURG-C): study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

Background

Surgery for colorectal cancer is associated with a high risk of post-operative adverse events, re-operations and a prolonged post-operative recovery. Previously, the effect of prehabilitation (pre-operative physical activity) has been studied for different types of surgery, including colorectal surgery. However, the trials on colorectal surgery have been of limited methodological quality and size. The aim of this trial is to compare the effect of a combined pre- and post-operative intervention of moderate aerobic physical activity and inspiratory muscle training (IMT) with standard care on post-operative recovery after surgery for colorectal cancer.

Methods/design

We are conducting a randomised, controlled, parallel-group, open-label, multi-centre trial with physical recovery within 4 weeks after cancer surgery as the primary endpoint. Some 640 patients planned for surgery for colorectal cancer will be enrolled. The intervention consists of pre- and post-operative physical activity with increased daily aerobic activity of moderate intensity as well as IMT. In the control group, patients will be advised to continue their normal daily exercise routine. The primary outcome is patient-reported physical recovery 4 weeks post-operatively. Secondary outcomes are length of sick leave, complication rate and severity, length of hospital stay, re-admittances, re-operations, post-operative mental recovery, quality of life and mortality, as well as changes in insulin-like growth factor 1 and insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 3, perception of pain and a health economic analysis.

Discussion

An increase in moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity is a safe, cheap and feasible intervention that would be possible to implement in standard care for patients with colorectal cancer. If shown to be effective, this lifestyle intervention could be a clinical parallel to pre-operative smoke cessation that has already been implemented with good clinical results.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02299596. Registered on 17 November 2014.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13063-017-1949-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

A Home-based Exercise Intervention for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients Post-Thoracotomy

OBJECTIVES

There are no evidenced-based rehabilitative guidelines for postsurgical non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. This qualitative study provides evidence on the acceptability of an effective postsurgical exercise intervention targeting the self-management of cancer-related fatigue to fill this gap.

DATA SOURCES

Qualitative perspective of 37 individuals randomized to a 6-week exercise program following hospital discharge post-thoracotomy for NSCLC.

CONCLUSION

Postsurgical NSCLC participants found this rehabilitative exercise intervention highly acceptable because it removed traditional barriers to exercise.

IMPLICATION FOR NURSING PRACTICE

A highly acceptable and effective solution for meeting the unmet rehabilitative support needs of NSCLC patients has broader implications for extension to other vulnerable, aging, deconditioned populations.

The physiotherapist and the esophageal cancer patient: from prehabilitation to rehabilitation

Esophageal cancer is a serious malignancy often treated with multimodal interventions and complex surgical resection. As treatment moves to centers of excellence with emphasis on enhanced recovery approaches, the role of the physiotherapist has expanded. The aim of this review is to discuss the rationale behind both the evolving prehabilitative role of the physiotherapist and more established postoperative interventions for patients with esophageal cancer. While a weak association between preoperative cardiopulmonary fitness and post-esophagectomy outcome is reported, cardiotoxicity during neoadjuvant chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy may heighten postoperative risk. Preliminary studies suggest that prehabilitative inspiratory muscle training may improve postoperative outcome. Weight and muscle loss are a recognized sequelae of esophageal cancer and the functional consequences of this should be assessed. Postoperative physiotherapy priorities include effective airway clearance and early mobilization. The benefits of respiratory physiotherapy post-esophagectomy are described by a small number of studies, however, practice increasingly recognizes the importance of early mobilization as a key component of postoperative recovery. The benefits of exercise training in patients with contraindications to mobilization remain to be explored. While there is a strong basis for tailored physiotherapy interventions in the management of patients with esophageal cancer, this review highlights the need for studies to inform prehabilitative and postoperative interventions.

Preoperative exercise training prevents functional decline after lung resection surgery: a randomized, single-blind controlled trial

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the effects of a preoperative pulmonary rehabilitation programme in patients with lung cancer undergoing video-assisted thoracic surgery.

DESIGN

Randomized, single-blind controlled trial.

SETTING

Teaching hospital.

SUBJECTS

Patients with suspected or confirmed lung cancer undergoing video-assisted thoracic surgery.

INTERVENTION

Participants were randomized to either a prehabilitation group or a control group. Participants in the prehabilitation group underwent a combination of moderate endurance and resistance training plus breathing exercises three to five times per week.

MAIN MEASURES

The primary outcome of the study was exercise capacity. Secondary outcomes were muscle strength (Senior Fitness Test), health-related quality of life (Short-Form 36) and the postoperative outcomes. Patients were evaluated at baseline (before randomization), presurgery (only the prehabilitation group), after surgery and three months post-operatively.

RESULTS

A total of 40 patients were randomized and 22 finished the study (10 in the prehabilitation group and 12 in the control group). Three patients were lost to follow-up at three months. After the training, there was a statistically significant improvement in exercise tolerance (+397 seconds, p = 0.0001), the physical summary component of the SF-36 (+4.4 points, p = 0.008) and muscle strength ( p < 0.01). There were no significant differences between groups after surgery. However, three months postoperatively, significant differences were found in the mean change of exercise capacity ( p = 0.005), physical summary component ( p = 0.001) and upper and lower body strength ( p = 0.045 and p = 0.002).

CONCLUSIONS

A pulmonary rehabilitation programme before video-assisted thoracic surgery seems to improve patients' preoperative condition and may prevent functional decline after surgery. Clinical Registration Number: NCT01963923 (Registration date 10/10/2013).

Preoperative high-intensity training in frail old patients undergoing pulmonary resection for NSCLC

Thoracic surgery remains the better therapeutic option for non-small cell lung cancer patients that are diagnosed in early stage disease. Preoperative lung function assessment includes respiratory function tests (RFT) and cardio-pulmonary exercise testing (CPET). Vo2 peak, FEV1 and DLCO as well as recognition of performance status, presence of co-morbidities, frailty indexes, and age predict the potential impact of surgical resection on patient health status and survival risk. In this study we have retrospectively assessed the benefit of a high-intensity preoperative pulmonary rehabilitation program (PRP) in 14 patients with underlying lung function impairment prior to surgery. Amongst these, three patients candidate to surgical resection exhibited severe functional impairment associated with high score of frailty according CHS and SOF index, resulting in a substantial mortality risk. Our observations indicate that PRP appear to reduce the mortality and morbidity risk in frail patients with concurrent lung function impairment undergoing thoracic surgery. PRP produced improvement of VO2 peak degree and pulmonary function resulting in reduced postoperative complications in high-risk patients from our cases. Our results indicate that a preoperative training program may improve postoperative clinical outcomes in fraillung cancer patients with impaired lung function prior to surgical resection.

Perioperative physical exercise interventions for patients undergoing lung cancer surgery: What is the evidence?

Surgical resection appears to be the most effective treatment for early-stage non-small cell lung cancer. Recent studies suggest that perioperative pulmonary rehabilitation improves functional capacity, reduces mortality and postoperative complications and enhances recovery and quality of life in operated patients. Our aim is to analyse and identify the most recent evidence-based physical exercise interventions, performed before or after surgery. We searched in MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Cochrane Library and PsycINFO. We included randomised controlled trials aimed at assessing efficacy of exercise-training programmes; physical therapy interventions had to be described in detail in order to be reproducible. Characteristics of studies and programmes, results and outcome data were extracted. Six studies were included, one describing preoperative rehabilitation and three assessing postoperative intervention. It seems that the best preoperative physical therapy training should include aerobic and strength training with a duration of 2–4 weeks. Although results showed improvement in exercise performance after preoperative pulmonary rehabilitation, it was not possible to identify the best preoperative intervention due to paucity of clinical trials in this area. Physical training programmes differed in every postoperative study with conflicting results, so comparison is difficult. Current literature shows inconsistent results regarding preoperative or postoperative physical exercise in patients undergoing lung resection. Even though few randomised trials were retrieved, treatment protocols were difficult to compare due to variability in design and implementation. Further studies with larger samples and better methodological quality are urgently needed to assess efficacy of both preoperative and postoperative exercise programmes.

Preoperative physical therapy treatment did not influence postoperative pain and disability outcomes in patients undergoing shoulder arthroscopy: a prospective study

Background

There is limited literature investigating preoperative physical therapy (pre-op PT) treatment on pain intensity and disability after musculoskeletal surgery. The purposes of the present cohort study were to describe patient characteristics for those who had and did not have pre-op PT treatment and determine whether pre-op PT influenced the length of postoperative physical therapy (post-op PT) treatment (number of sessions) and 3-month and 6-month postsurgical outcomes, such as pain intensity and disability.

Patients and methods

A total of 124 patients (mean age =43 years, 81 males) with shoulder pain were observed before and after shoulder arthroscopic surgery. Demographic data, medical history, and validated self-report questionnaires were collected preoperatively and at 3 months and 6 months after surgery. Analysis of variance models were performed to identify differences across measures for patients who had pre-op PT treatment and those who did not and to examine outcome differences at 3 months and 6 months. Alpha was set at the 0.05 level for statistical significance.

Results

Males had less participation in pre-op PT than females (P=0.01). In contrast, age, pain intensity, disability, and pain-associated psychological factors did not differ between pre-op PT treatment groups (P>0.05). Subacromial bursectomies were more commonly performed in patients having pre-op PT treatment (P<0.05). Pre-op PT treatment did not influence length of post-op PT treatment and did not affect 3-month and 6-month pain intensity and disability outcomes. Differences in distribution of pre-op PT for males and females and subacromial bursectomy did not influence 3-month or 6-month postsurgical outcomes.

Conclusion

Receiving pre-op PT treatment did not influence post-op PT treatment or pain and disability outcomes at 3 months and 6 months. This prospective cohort study provides no evidence of benefit for pre-op PT on post-op PT treatment or postsurgical outcomes. Females or patients receiving certain surgical procedures are more likely to undergo pre-op PT treatment. However, these differences did not influence postoperative outcomes in this cohort.

POSITIVE study: physical exercise program in non-operable lung cancer patients undergoing palliative treatment

Background

Patients with advanced stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) or small cell lung cancer (SCLC) often experience multidimensional impairments, affecting quality of life during their course of disease. In lung cancer patients with operable disease, several studies have shown that exercise has a positive impact on quality of life and physical functioning. There is limited evidence regarding efficacy for advanced lung cancer patients undergoing palliative treatment. Therefore, the POSITIVE study aims to evaluate the benefit of a 24-week exercise intervention during palliative treatment in a randomized controlled setting.

Methods/design

The POSITIVE study is a randomized, controlled trial investigating the effects of a 24-week exercise intervention during palliative treatment on quality of life, physical performance and immune function in advanced, non-operable lung cancer patients. 250 patients will be recruited in the Clinic for Thoracic Diseases in Heidelberg, enrolment begun in November 2013. Main inclusion criterion is histologically confirmed NSCLC (stage IIIa, IIIb, IV) or SCLC (Limited Disease-SCLC, Extensive Disease-SCLC) not amenable to surgery. Patients are randomized into two groups. Both groups receive weekly care management phone calls (CMPCs) with the goal to assess symptoms and side effects. Additionally, one group receives a combined resistance and endurance training (3x/week). Primary endpoints are quality of life assessed by the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy for patients with lung cancer (FACT-L, subcategory Physical Well-Being) and General Fatigue measured by the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI-20). Secondary endpoints are physical performance (maximal voluntary isometric contraction, 6-min walk distance), psychosocial (depression and anxiety) and immunological parameters and overall survival.

Discussion

The aim of the POSITIVE trial is the evaluation of effects of a 24-week structured and guided exercise intervention during palliative treatment stages. Analysis of various outcomes (such as quality of life, physical performance, self-efficacy, psychosocial and immunological parameters) will contribute to a better understanding of the potential of exercise in advanced lung cancer patients. In contrast to other studies with advanced oncological patients the POSITIVE trial provides weekly phone calls to support patients both in the intervention and control group and to segregate the impact of physical activity on quality of life.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02055508 (Date: December 12, 2013)

Functional and postoperative outcomes after preoperative exercise training in patients with lung cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. For early stages of the disease, lung resection surgery remains the best treatment with curative intent, but significant morbidity is associated, especially among patients with poor pulmonary function and cardiorespiratory fitness. In those cases, the implementation of a preoperative exercise-based intervention could optimize patient's functional status before surgery and improve postoperative outcomes and enhance recovery. The aim of this systematic review is to provide the current body of knowledge regarding the effectiveness of a preoperative exercise-based intervention on postoperative and functional outcomes in patients with lung cancer submitted to lung resection surgery. A systematic review of the literature using CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Pubmed, PEDro and SCOPUS was undertaken in September 2015 yielding a total of 1656 references. Two independent reviewers performed the assessment of the potentially eligible records against the inclusion criteria and finally, 21 articles were included in the review. Articles were included if they examined the effects of an exercise-based intervention on at least one of the selected outcomes: pulmonary function, (functional) exercise capacity, health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and postoperative outcomes (length of stay and postoperative complications). Fourteen studies were further selected for a meta-analysis to quantify the mean effect of the intervention and generate 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using the Cochrane Review Manager 5.0.25. For two of the outcomes included (exercise capacity and HRQoL), studies showed large heterogeneity and thus, a meta-analysis was considered inappropriate. Pulmonary function (forced vital capacity and forced expiratory volume in 1 s) was significantly enhanced after the intervention [standardized mean difference (SMD) = 0.38; 95% CI 0.14, 0.63 and SMD = 0.27, 95% CI 0.11, 0.42, respectively]. In comparison with the patients in the control groups, patients in the experimental groups spent less days in the hospital (mean difference = -4.83, 95% CI -5.9, -3.76) and had a significantly reduced risk for developing postoperative complications (risk ratios = 0.45; 95% CI 0.28, 0.74). In conclusion, preoperative exercise-based training improves pulmonary function before surgery and reduces in-hospital length of stay and postoperative complications after lung resection surgery for lung cancer.

Fatigue in lung cancer patients: symptom burden and management of challenges

Lung cancer (LC) remains the most common cause of cancer death in several countries across the world. Fatigue is the most frequently reported symptom in LC patients throughout the entire course of disease, and all international guidelines recommend early screening for cancer-related fatigue (CRF) and symptoms that can affect patients' quality of life. In patients with LC, fatigue belongs to the symptom cluster of pain, depression, and insomnia, which are commonly observed simultaneously, but are typically treated as separate although they may have common biological mechanisms. The treatment of CRF remains one of the difficult areas in the oncology field: scarce evidence supports pharmacological therapies, while some interesting data arising indicates alternative remedies and physical exercise seem to be one of the most effective approaches for CRF at any stage of LC.

Exercise Training for Patients Pre- and Postsurgically Treated for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

This meta-analysis examined the effects of exercise training on length of hospital stay, postoperative complications, exercise capacity, 6-minute walking distance (6MWD), and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients following resection of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

METHODS

This review searched PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Collaboration data base up to August 16, 2015. It includes 15 studies comparing exercise endurance and quality of life before versus after exercise training in patients undergoing lung resection for NSCLC.

RESULTS

This review identified 15 studies, 8 of which are randomized controlled trials including 350 patients. Preoperative exercise training shortened length of hospital stay; mean difference (MD): -4.98 days (95% CI = -6.22 to -3.74, P < .00001) and also decreased postoperative complications for which the odds ratio was 0.33 (95% CI = 0.15 to 0.74, P = .007). Four weeks of preoperative exercise training improved exercise capacity; 6MWD was increased to 39.95 m (95% CI = 5.31 to 74.6, P = .02) .While postoperative exercise training can also effectively improve exercise capacity, it required a longer training period; 6MWD was increased to 62.83 m (95% CI = 57.94 to 67.72) after 12 weeks of training ( P < .00001). For HRQoL, on the EORTC-QLQ-30, there were no differences in patients' global health after exercise, but dyspnea score was decreased -14.31 points (95% CI = -20.03 to -8.58, P < .00001). On the SF-36 score, physical health was better after exercise training (MD = 3 points, 95% CI = 0.81 to 5.2, P = .007) while there was no difference with regard to mental health. The I² statistics of all statistically pooled data were lower than 30%. There was a low amount of heterogeneity among these studies.

CONCLUSIONS

Evidence from this review suggests that preoperative exercise training may shorten length of hospital stay, decrease postoperative complications and increase 6MWD. Postoperative exercise training can also effectively improve both the 6MWD and quality of life in surgical patients with NSCLC, but requiring a longer training period.

Impact of self-reported physical activity and health promotion behaviors on lung cancer survivorship

Background

There is some initial evidence that an enhanced physical activity level can improve fquality of life, and possibly survival among patients with lung cancer. The primary aim of this project was to evaluate the impact of physical activity on the quality and quantity of life of lung cancer survivors.

Methods

Between January 1, 1997, and December 31, 2009, a total of 1466 lung cancer survivors completed a questionnaire with patient-reported outcomes for quality of life (QOL), demographics, disease and clinical characteristics, and a measure of physical activity (Baecke Questionnaire). Chi-square tests compared lung cancer survivors who reported being physically active versus not on a variety of the other covariates. Kaplan-Meier estimates and Cox models evaluated the prognostic importance of physical activity level on Overall Survival (OS).

Results

Roughly half of the lung cancer survivors had advanced stage disease at the time of survey. Treatment prevalence rates were 61, 54, and 33 % for surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, respectively. The majority (77 %) of survivors reported themselves as physically active. Physically active survivors reported greater activity across all individual Baecke items. Lung cancer survivor-reported QOL indicated the benefits of physical activity in all domains. Survivors receiving chemotherapy or radiation at the time of questionnaire completion were less likely to be physically active (74 and 73 % respectively). In contrast, 84 % of surgical patients were physically active. Disease recurrence rates were the same for physically active and inactive patients (81 % vs 82 %, p = 0.62). Physically active patients survived an average of 4 more years than those who were not physically active (8.4 years versus 4.4 years respectively, log rank p < 0.0001).

Conclusions

Being physically active was related to profound advantages in QOL and survival in a large sample of lung cancer survivors.

Increasing physical activity and exercise in lung cancer: reviewing safety, benefits, and application

Lung cancer continues to be a difficult disease frequently diagnosed in late stages with a high mortality and symptom burden. In part because of frequent lung comorbidity, even lung cancer survivors often remain symptomatic and functionally limited. Though targeted therapy continues to increase treatment options for advanced-stage disease, symptom burden remains high with few therapeutic options. In the last several decades, exercise and physical activity have arisen as therapeutic options for obstructive lung disease and lung cancer. To date, exercise has been shown to reduce symptoms, increase exercise tolerance, improve quality of life, and potentially reduce length of stay and postoperative complications. Multiple small trials have been performed in perioperative non-small-cell lung cancer patients, although fewer studies are available for patients with advanced-stage disease. Despite the increased interest in this subject over the last few years, a validated exercise regimen has not been established for perioperative or advanced-stage disease. Clinicians underutilize exercise and pulmonary rehabilitation as a therapy, in part because of the lack of evidence-based consensus as to how and when to implement increasing physical activity. This review summarizes the existing evidence on exercise in lung cancer patients.

Personalized home-based interval exercise training may improve cardiorespiratory fitness in cancer patients preparing to undergo hematopoietic cell transplantation

Impaired cardiorespiratory fitness is associated with inferior survival in patients preparing to undergo hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). Exercise training based on short, higher-intensity intervals has the potential to efficiently improve cardiorespiratory fitness. We studied home-based interval exercise training (IET) in 40 patients prior to autologous (N=20) or allogeneic (N=20) HCT. Each session consisted of 5, three-minute intervals of walking, jogging, or cycling at 65-95% maximal heart rate (MHR) with 3 minutes of low intensity exercise (<65% MHR) between intervals. Participants were asked to perform sessions at least 3 times weekly. The duration of the intervention was at least 6 weeks, depending on each patient’s scheduled transplantation date. Cardiorespiratory fitness was assessed from a peak oxygen consumption test (VO₂peak) and a 6 minute walk (6MWD) before and after the intervention period. For the autologous HCT cohort, improvements in VO₂peak (p=0.12) and 6MWD (p=0.19) were not statistically significant. For the allogeneic cohort, the median VO₂peak improvement was 3.7ml/kg*min (p=0.005) and the median 6MWD improvement was 34 meters (p=0.006). Home-based, interval exercise training can be performed prior to HCT and has the potential to improve cardiorespiratory fitness.