TY - JOUR
T1 - Effects of supervised aerobic exercise on cardiorespiratory fitness and patient-reported health outcomes in colorectal cancer patients undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy—a pilot study
AU - Zopf, Eva M.
AU - Schulz, Holger
AU - Poeschko, Jonas
AU - Aschenbroich, Kerstin
AU - Wilhelm, Thomas
AU - Eypasch, Ernst
AU - Kleimann, Elmar
AU - Severin, Kai
AU - Benz, Jutta
AU - Liu, Enwu
AU - Bloch, Wilhelm
AU - Baumann, Freerk T.
PY - 2022/3
Y1 - 2022/3
N2 - Purpose: Colorectal cancer and its treatment are associated with debilitating side effects. Exercise may improve the physical and psychological wellbeing of cancer patients; however, evidence in colorectal cancer patients undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy is limited. This pilot study aimed to explore the effects of supervised aerobic exercise on cardiorespiratory fitness and patient-reported health outcomes in colorectal cancer patients undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy. Methods: Patients who had undergone curative resection for colorectal cancer (stages II–III) and were scheduled to receive adjuvant chemotherapy were enrolled into this non-randomized controlled trial. Patients in the intervention group (IG) took part in a 6-month supervised aerobic exercise program, while the control group (CG) received usual care. Cardiorespiratory fitness (measured by peak oxygen consumption) was assessed at baseline and 6 months. Fatigue, quality of life, and physical activity levels were additionally assessed at 3 months. Results: In total, 59 patients (33 in IG vs. 26 in CG) were enrolled into this study. Eighteen patients (9 in IG vs. 9 in CG) dropped out of the study prior to the 6-month follow-up. Significant improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness (p =.002) and selected patient-reported health outcomes, such as reduced motivation (p =.015) and mental fatigue (p =.018), were observed in the IG when compared to the CG. Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the effects of a supervised aerobic exercise program in colorectal cancer patients undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy. The significant and clinically meaningful improvements in CRF warrant further randomized controlled trials to confirm these findings. Trials registration: German Clinical Trials Register Identifier: DRKS00005793, 11/03/2014, retrospectively registered.
AB - Purpose: Colorectal cancer and its treatment are associated with debilitating side effects. Exercise may improve the physical and psychological wellbeing of cancer patients; however, evidence in colorectal cancer patients undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy is limited. This pilot study aimed to explore the effects of supervised aerobic exercise on cardiorespiratory fitness and patient-reported health outcomes in colorectal cancer patients undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy. Methods: Patients who had undergone curative resection for colorectal cancer (stages II–III) and were scheduled to receive adjuvant chemotherapy were enrolled into this non-randomized controlled trial. Patients in the intervention group (IG) took part in a 6-month supervised aerobic exercise program, while the control group (CG) received usual care. Cardiorespiratory fitness (measured by peak oxygen consumption) was assessed at baseline and 6 months. Fatigue, quality of life, and physical activity levels were additionally assessed at 3 months. Results: In total, 59 patients (33 in IG vs. 26 in CG) were enrolled into this study. Eighteen patients (9 in IG vs. 9 in CG) dropped out of the study prior to the 6-month follow-up. Significant improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness (p =.002) and selected patient-reported health outcomes, such as reduced motivation (p =.015) and mental fatigue (p =.018), were observed in the IG when compared to the CG. Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the effects of a supervised aerobic exercise program in colorectal cancer patients undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy. The significant and clinically meaningful improvements in CRF warrant further randomized controlled trials to confirm these findings. Trials registration: German Clinical Trials Register Identifier: DRKS00005793, 11/03/2014, retrospectively registered.
KW - Colorectal neoplasms
KW - Fatigue
KW - Physical activity
KW - Physical fitness
KW - Quality of life
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85116811643&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s00520-021-06608-9
DO - 10.1007/s00520-021-06608-9
M3 - Article
C2 - 34623488
AN - SCOPUS:85116811643
SN - 0941-4355
VL - 30
SP - 1945
EP - 1955
JO - Supportive Care in Cancer
JF - Supportive Care in Cancer
IS - 3
ER -
