Poster Presentation FCIC Survivorship Conference 2013

Lower levels of depression, anxiety, distress, fatigue and symptoms are associated with higher levels of physical activity in non-small cell lung cancer (#44)

Linda Denehy 1 , Christine F McDonald 2 3 , Louis Irving 2 , Catherine L Granger 1 3
  1. Physiotherapy, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
  2. Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, Melbourne Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
  3. Institute for Breathing and Sleep, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Aims: 1) Compare association between physical activity (PA) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL), mood and symptoms in surgically and non-surgically treated individuals with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). 2) Measure change in PA, HRQoL, mood and symptoms over time. Methods: 50 participants from three tertiary hospitals with stage I-III NSCLC (32male), mean±SD age 68±9years, forced expiratory volume (FEV1) 74±21%predicted, BMI 27±6kg/m2 were assessed at diagnosis, 10weeks and six months. 24% were undergoing chemotherapy/radiotherapy at time of 10week assessment. Measures included Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE), European Organisation for the Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC-QLQ-C30), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Distress Thermometer and Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale (MSAS). Results: Linear mixed models demonstrated significant change from baseline to six months for the whole cohort (n=50) in PASE (p=0.010) and symptoms (p=0.001) but not in HRQoL. For non-surgical individuals there was deterioration in PA, physical function, global quality of life, fatigue and total symptoms over 10weeks from baseline (p<0.05). At 10weeks 17.4% met PA guidelines and PA was moderately correlated with depression (r=-0.527), anxiety (r=-0.554), physical function (r=0.662), global quality of life (r=0.651) and fatigue (r=-0.503); but correlations with distress (r=-0.352), symptom score (r=-0.399) and dyspnoea (r=-0.287) were fair. In comparison, individuals undergoing surgery did not experience deterioration in HRQoL or fatigue. At 10weeks 25.4% met PA guidelines. Correlations between level of PA with depression (r=-0.451), distress (r=-0.251) and global quality of life (r=0.277) were fair. Conclusion: Lower levels of PA are associated with worse depression, anxiety, distress, fatigue, symptoms and HRQoL in individuals with NSCLC undergoing chemotherapy/radiotherapy. A weaker relationship is found in surgically treated individuals. There is deterioration in PA at 10weeks regardless of treatment type.

Funding: Victorian Cancer Agency, Eirene Lucas Foundation.

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