Is physical fitness decreased in survivors of childhood leukemia? A systematic review

Abstract

The aim of this review is to determine whether physical fitness, assessed by peak oxygen uptake (VO 2peak ) measurement, is reduced in survivors of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) compared to healthy children. A systematic literature search (up to June 2004) was performed using Medline, Sportdiscus, Cinahl, Embase, Cochrane and PEDro database and reference tracking. The VO 2peak (ml kg À1 min À1 ) reached during a maximal exercise test until volitional exhaustion was used as the main outcome for this review. In all, 17 studies were identified in the literature. Data from three studies (102 ALL survivors, age ranging from 7 to 19 years) were pooled in a meta-analysis. Although there was a significant heterogeneity between the included studies (P ¼ 0.0006), the standardized mean difference (SMD) value of À0.61 (P ¼ 0.07) indicated that VO 2peak tended to be reduced in survivors of childhood ALL compared to healthy control subjects, that is, decrease of À5.97 ml kg À1 min À1 (95% confidence interval (CI): (À12.35, 0.41); P ¼ 0.07) or À13% (95 % CI: (À27, 0.004)). Physical fitness tends to be reduced in survivors of ALL during childhood, which suggests the need for this population group to engage in regular physical activities with the purpose of increasing their functional capacity. Although more research is needed, this functional improvement might ameliorate the quality of life of ALL survivors as physical and outdoors activities are an essential part of daily routine during childhood.

Physical fitness in childhood and adolescence: a powerful marker of health

“…77 Cardiorespiratory fitness tends to be reduced in survivors of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. 78,79 This suggests the need for this population group to engage in regular physical activities, with the purpose of increasing their functional capacity or physical fitness. More recent data show that even 5-6 years after cessation of childhood leukemia treatment, there are still clear negative effects on motor performance and physical fitness.…”

Aerobic exercise capacity at long-term follow-up after paediatric allogeneic haematopoietic SCT

“…7 A recent systematic review revealed slightly reduced VO 2peak in survivors of childhood leukaemia compared with healthy controls. 8 Although HSCT has been described as the treatmentvariable most consistently associated with reduced VO 2peak following childhood leukaemia, 9 only three older studies in a limited number of patients have investigated exercise capacity at long-term follow-up after paediatric HSCT. They found VO 2peak to be moderately reduced.…”

Research sport preferences structure in children with cancer

“…Pravidelné pohybové aktivity jsou vhodným prostředkem pro celkové zdraví a zlepšení kvality života jedinců všech věkových skupin. V kontextu osob s onkologickým onemocněním na tuto skutečnost upozorňuje také řada dalších zahraničních prací (Cox et al, 2009;Hacker, 2008;Luctkar-Flude, Groll, Woodend, & Tranmer, 2009;Van Brussel, Takken, Lucia, van der Net, & Helders, 2005). Pohybové aktivity jsou do značné míry také predikátorem míry zdraví dětí a mládeže (Vanreusel, Renson, & Beunen, 1997;Yang, Telama, Leino, & Viikari, 1999).…”