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bioRxiv · 10.1101/508234

Effects of Curative-Intent Lung Cancer Therapy on Functional Exercise Capacity and Patient-Reported Outcomes

Abstract

BackgroundLung cancer treatment can lead to negative health consequences. We analyzed the effects of curative-intent lung cancer treatment on functional exercise capacity (EC) and patient-reported outcomes (PROs).\n\nMethodsWe performed a prospective-observational cohort study of consecutive patients with stage I-IIIA lung cancer undergoing curative-intent therapy and assessed functional EC [primary outcome, six-minute walk distance (6MWD)], cancer-specific quality of life (QoL) [secondary outcome, European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer QoL Questionnaire Core 30 (EORTC-QLQ-C30) summary score], and exploratory outcomes including dyspnea [University of California San Diego Shortness of Breath Questionnaire (UCSD-SOBQ)] and fatigue [Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI)] symptoms before and at 1 to 3 months post-treatment. We analyzed the time effect of treatment on outcomes using multivariable generalized estimating equations.\n\nResultsIn 35 enrolled participants, treatment was borderline-significantly associated with a clinically-meaningful decline in functional EC [(mean change, 95% CI) 6MWD = -25.4m (-55.3, +4.47), p=0.10], non-significant change in cancer-specific QoL [EORTC-QLQ-C30 summary score = - 3.4 (-9.8, +3.0), p=0.30], and statistically-significant and clinically-meaningful higher dyspnea [UCSD-SOBQ = +13.1 (+5.7, +20.6), p=0.001] and increased fatigue [BFI = +10.0 (+2.9, +17.0), p=0.006].\n\nConclusionsAmong the first prospective analysis of the effect of curative-intent lung cancer treatment on functional EC and PROs, we observed worsening dyspnea and fatigue, and possibly a decline in functional EC but not cancer-specific QoL at 1 to 3 months post-treatment. Interventions to reduce treatment-related morbidities and improve lung cancer survivorship may need to focus on reducing dyspnea, fatigue, and/or improving functional EC.\n\nConsent and ApprovalWritten informed consent was obtained from each participant included in this study. All human investigations were performed after approval by the VA San Diego Healthcare System institutional review board and in accord with an assurance filed with and approved by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

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Ha, D., Ries, A. L., Lippman, S. M., Fuster, M. M.. 2019-01-04. Effects of Curative-Intent Lung Cancer Therapy on Functional Exercise Capacity and Patient-Reported Outcomes. https://doi.org/10.1101/508234

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