Catarina Garcia
(Research Center in Sports Sciences, Health Sciences and Human Development, CIDESD - University of Maia; ONCOMOVE®, AICSO - Associação de Investigação de Cuidados de Suporte em Oncologia)
Objective: This study investigated the effectiveness of exercise prehabilitation on functional capacity, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and body composition in head and neck cancer (HNC) patients initially proposed for definitive chemoradiotherapy (CRT).
Methods: In this randomized controlled trial (NCT05418842), patients were allocated to an exercise prehabilitation program (EP) or usual care (UC). The EP group completed a pre-treatment supervised program combining low-volume high-intensity cardiorespiratory and resistance exercise training (60 minutes, three times/week). Pre-treatment changes were assessed before randomization and before the start of radiotherapy for functional capacity (6-minute walk test, 6MWT; 30-second sit-to-stand test, STS; isometric handgrip strength), body composition, and HRQoL (EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ-HN43).
Results: Forty-one patients completed both pre-treatment assessments (EP: n=21, 63.3±8.9 years, 91% men; UC: n=20, 62.8±10.7 years, 90% men). The median duration of the pre-treatment phase was similar between groups (EP: 28 [IQR 24–28] days; UC: 29 [IQR 21–32] days; p=0.813). Compared with the UC group, the EP group showed greater improvements in 6MWT distance (+32.1 meters; 95% CI, 8.0–56.1; p=0.010) and 30-second STS performance (+3.9 repetitions; 95% CI, 1.8–6.0; p<0.001). No significant differences were observed between groups in handgrip strength, body weight, muscle mass, or body fat. Regarding HRQoL, the EP group showed less deterioration than UC in the EORTC QLQ-C30 summary score (6.4 points; 95% CI, 1.8–11.0; p=0.008), as well as in social functioning (9.9 points; 95% CI, 0.6–19.2; p=0.038), and body image (QLQ-HN43; −13.8 points; 95% CI, −24.3 to −3.3; p=0.011). No serious adverse events related to exercise occurred.
Conclusion: The EP program was safe and improved 6MWT and 30-second STS performance. Additionally, exercise prevented the decline in several HRQoL domains, including social functioning, body image, and the summary score of QLQ-C30 in HNC patients initially proposed for CRT.
Funding: SFRH/BD/149054/2019; UID/04045.
Keywords
Head and Neck Cancer; Exercise Prehabilitation; Functional Capacity; Chemoradiotherapy
| Abstract submitters declaration |
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| Conflict of Interest & Ethical Approval |
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Catarina Garcia
(Research Center in Sports Sciences, Health Sciences and Human Development, CIDESD - University of Maia; ONCOMOVE®, AICSO - Associação de Investigação de Cuidados de Suporte em Oncologia)
Inês Leão
(Medical Oncology Department, Unidade Local de Saúde Santa Maria; ONCOMOVE®, AICSO - Associação de Investigação de Cuidados de Suporte em Oncologia)
Diogo Pinto
(Research Center in Sports Sciences, Health Sciences and Human Development, CIDESD - University of Maia)
Nuno Dias Rato
(Research Center in Sports Sciences, Health Sciences and Human Development, CIDESD - University of Maia; ONCOMOVE®, AICSO - Associação de Investigação de Cuidados de Suporte em Oncologia)
Ana Campolargo
(Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department, Unidade Local de Saúde Gaia/Espinho; ONCOMOVE®, AICSO - Associação de Investigação de Cuidados de Suporte em Oncologia)
Isabel Dias
(Nutrition Department, Unidade Local de Saúde Gaia/Espinho)
Ana Raquel Monteiro
(Medical Oncology Department, Unidade Local de Saúde Gaia/Espinho)
Adriana Monteiro Soares
(Medical Oncology Department, Unidade Local de Saúde Gaia/Espinho)
Raquel Basto
(Medical Oncology Department, Unidade Local de Saúde Gaia/Espinho)
Enrique Dias
(Medical Oncology Department, Unidade Local de Saúde Gaia/Espinho)
Eduardo Vilela
(Cardiology Department, Unidade Local de Saúde Gaia/Espinho; ONCOMOVE®, AICSO - Associação de Investigação de Cuidados de Suporte em Oncologia)
Madalena Teixeira
(Cardiology Department, Unidade Local de Saúde Gaia/Espinho; ONCOMOVE®, AICSO - Associação de Investigação de Cuidados de Suporte em Oncologia)
Edite Coimbra
(Otorhinolaryngology Department, Unidade Local de Saúde Gaia/Espinho)
Pedro Oliveira
(Otorhinolaryngology Department, Unidade Local de Saúde Gaia/Espinho)
Anabela Amarelo
(Medical Oncology Department, Unidade Local de Saúde Gaia/Espinho; ONCOMOVE®, AICSO - Associação de Investigação de Cuidados de Suporte em Oncologia)
Andreia Capela
(Medical Oncology Department, Unidade Local de Saúde Gaia/Espinho; ONCOMOVE®, AICSO - Associação de Investigação de Cuidados de Suporte em Oncologia)
Sofia Viamonte
(North Rehabilitation Center, Unidade Local de Saúde Gaia/Espinho; ONCOMOVE®, AICSO - Associação de Investigação de Cuidados de Suporte em Oncologia; Institute of Biomedicine (iBiMED), Department of Medical Sciences)
Horácio Costa
(Plastic Surgery Department, Unidade Local de Saúde Gaia/Espinho)
Ana Joaquim
(ONCOMOVE®, AICSO - Associação de Investigação de Cuidados de Suporte em Oncologia)
Fernando Ribeiro
(Institute of Biomedicine (iBiMED), School of Health Sciences - University of Aveiro)
Alberto Alves
(Research Center in Sports Sciences, Health Sciences and Human Development, CIDESD - University of Maia; ONCOMOVE®, AICSO - Associação de Investigação de Cuidados de Suporte em Oncologia)
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