RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Home-based rehabilitation program for lung cancer patients
JF European Respiratory Journal
JO Eur Respir J
FD European Respiratory Society
SP 1456
VO 38
IS Suppl 55
A1 Valérie Coats
A1 François Maltais
A1 Sébastien Simard
A1 Έric Fréchette
A1 Didier Saey
YR 2011
UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/38/Suppl_55/1456.abstract
AB Patients with lung cancer often experience a reduction in exercise tolerance and muscle weakness. Despite the well-recognized effectiveness of pulmonary rehabilitation, few researches have studied its impact in lung cancer patients, particularly among whose awaiting for a lung resection surgery (LRS).Objectives: To investigate the feasibility of a short home-based rehabilitation program (HBRP) in patients with lung cancer awaiting for a LRS and to determine its effectiveness on exercise tolerance and skeletal muscle strength.Methods: Ten patients with lung cancer awaiting for a LRS were invited to a 4-week HBRP including moderate intensity aerobic activities (walking and cycling) and muscular training performed three times weekly. Prior to and after the 4-week HBRP, cardiopulmonary exercise test, six-minute walking test (6MWT) and muscle strengh were measured. Patients were asked to complete a diary including adverse events and training information.Results: No adverse event was reported during the rehabilitation program and 7 patients completed ≥75% of the HBRP. In the latter, the cycle endurance test duration (277±70 Vs 379±165s,p=0.08) and the 6MWT (597±49 Vs 624±39m, p<0.05) tended to be, or significatively, improved with training. There was a significant improvement in strength of triceps and hamstrings (4±4kg and 10±9kg p<0.05, respectively).Conclusion: In patients with lung cancer awaiting for LRS, home-based rehabilitation was feasible and induced some physiological gains, such as improved exercise tolerance and muscle strength. This may be clinically relevant, because poor exercise capacity is a strong predictor of postoperative complications in this population.Project supported by the Canadian Lung Association.