Thoracic Cancer (Apr 2024)

Safety and efficacy evaluation of personalized exercise prescription during chemotherapy for lung cancer patients

  • Qian Li,
  • Chen Guo,
  • Baoshan Cao,
  • Fanjie Zhou,
  • Jiulong Wang,
  • Hong Ren,
  • Yanchun Li,
  • Mopei Wang,
  • Yane Liu,
  • Hua Zhang,
  • Liwen Ma

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1111/1759-7714.15272
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 15, no. 11
pp. 906 – 918

Abstract

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Abstract Background To explore the safety and effectiveness of personalized exercise intervention during chemotherapy for lung cancer patients who were relatively weak and with compromised cardiopulmonary function. Methods Thirty‐eight lung cancer patients treated with chemotherapy at Peking University Third Hospital were enrolled in this prospective study. The exercise group (N = 21) received individualized exercise guidance based on personal test results and exercised regularly, while the control group (N = 17) only received exercise education and planed exercise methods according to their own preferences. Both groups underwent three fitness tests and clinical indicator assessments at 0, 6, and 12 weeks after starting the exercise, and the differences in trends of various indicators between the two groups were compared. Results No exercise‐related adverse events occurred during the 12‐week exercise period. After 12 weeks of exercise training, in terms of fitness, the exercise group showed significant improvements in 6‐min walk test (6MWT) (p < 0.001), peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak) (p = 0.005), muscle content (p < 0.001), muscle percentage (p < 0.001), and grip strength (p = 0.008) compared to the control group. In terms of clinical indicators, the exercise group showed significant improvements in vital capacity (p = 0.018), D‐dimer (p = 0.031), and C‐reactive protein (CRP) (p = 0.01), uric acid (p = 0.003), triglycerides (p < 0.001), functional average score (p < 0.001), and main symptom average score (p = 0.004) compared to the control group in trends over time. Conclusion Rehabilitation exercises using individualized exercise prescriptions tailored by exercise prescription specialists during chemotherapy are safe for lung cancer patients. Adhering to exercise can achieve comprehensive improvements in physical fitness and quality of life at 12 weeks.

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