What clinical, functional, and psychological factors before treatment are predictors of poor quality of life in cancer patients at the end of chemotherapy?

Abstract

Objective: To correlate physical activity level (PAL), functional capacity and psychological state with quality of life (QoL) in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy (CT). Method: Observational cohort study. Patients (n=121) with any primary cancer site with indications of chemotherapy with palliative or curative intent were evaluated at three moments: 1) patient admission (week 0), before chemotherapy; 2) week 8; 3) end of CT. Data were collected regarding QoL, PAL, clinical data, functional capacity (short walking distance test, sitting-rising test, isometric manual gripping force), and anxiety and depression tests. Results: There was significant improvement at the end of CT for: level of physical activity; walk test (> 500 meters); sitting-rising test (> 20x). There was a significant reduction in the prevalence of moderate/severe depression. The prevalence of high QoL showed a significant increase in evaluation 3 (42.4% vs. 40.0% vs. 59.2%, p=0.02). Education up to high school level, low PAL, walking < 300 meters, sitting and rising < 20 times, having depression (moderate to severe) and QoL that was not high at the start of treatment (week 0) all proved to be risk factors for low quality of life at week 16. Conversely, early staging, curative intent chemotherapy and low-grade symptoms were shown to be protective factors. Conclusion: Performing less than 20 movements in the sitting-rising test and low PAL at the start of chemotherapy represent independent risk factors for low quality of life at the end of chemotherapy.

Effects of exercises on pain and functional capacity in hospitalized cancer patients

“…The authors reported reduced cancer-related fatigue and improved functional independence of activities of daily living, as measured by the Barthel Index, after the supervised exercise program 27 . The studies by Pereira, Santos and Sarges 15 and Mangia et al 10 reported that the functional capacity assessed by the ECOG questionnaire and the STS can contribute to the elaboration of care plans for the oncologic patient care, being that by identifying the functionality, mea-sures are taken to prevent or reduce functional impairment and the risk of complications. However, in this study, no significant changes in functional capacity were observed after the physiotherapy intervention.…”

“…The McGill Pain Questionnaire is a multidimensional instrument to measure pain by location, intensity, and its behavior considering the sensitive, affective, evaluative, and mixed dimensions 9 . It has reliability and good validity in cancer patients 8,10 . The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) considers walking activities, moderate and vigorous physical activity, and has been used in cancer patients 10 .…”

“…It has reliability and good validity in cancer patients 8,10 . The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) considers walking activities, moderate and vigorous physical activity, and has been used in cancer patients 10 . The interpretation of IPAQ was in accordance with the recommendations suggested by the group of scientific reviewers 11 .…”

“…The interpretation of IPAQ was in accordance with the recommendations suggested by the group of scientific reviewers 11 . The sit-to-stand test (STS) from a chair assessed lower limb strength and endurance 10 . At the signal, the participant had to stand up, stand fully, and then return to a sitting position.…”

Características Sociodemográficas E Reprodutivas De Mulheres Com Câncer De Mama

“…Os estudos que usaram exercícios aeróbicos de baixa e média intensidade também apresentaram benefícios da exercício físico em relação à melhora da QV (GOKAL et al, 2015;JENSEN et al, 2014;MANGIA et al, 2017), redução da sensação de fadiga (WART et al, 1025;REPKA, HAYWARD, 2018;VENI et al, 2018) e melhora da função muscular (LIMA et al, 2018;WART et al, 2018). Exercícios de baixa e média intensidade têm a vantagem de facilitar a adesão.…”