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Effect of home-based preoperative exercise training on quality of life after lung cancer surgery

Lung cancer is the most fatal type of cancer globally, with numbers in 2020 reaching 1.8   million deaths worldwide. Surgical resection is the therapeutic option which offers the best prognosis for lung cancer patients, with an overall survival of 74% and 62% at 3 and 5 years after surgery, respectively. 

However, surgery has a detrimental impact on health-related quality of life, with 100% of lung cancer patients being concerned about the limitations in their physical function and 96% about the levels of fatigue and pain after lobectomy. Preoperative exercise training has been implemented as a prehabilitation strategy, showing potential to optimise the recovery of functional capacity after lung cancer resection.

Despite these positive findings, evidence on its effect on postoperative health-related quality of life remains limited. Furthermore, preoperative exercise interventions have mostly been conducted in hospitals, which may limit patient adherence because transportation-related problems were identified as a major barrier to participation in prehabilitation for oncological surgery. This research project aims to assess the feasibility and effects of a preoperative home-based exercise program on health-related quality of life after lung cancer surgery.

Keywords: Lung Cancer, Prehabilitation, Quality of life

Principal Investigator: Pedro Machado (pedro.machado@ulo.pt)

Research Team

  • ciTechCare: Joana Cruz (joana.cruz@ulo.pt); Sara Pimenta (sara.p.pimenta@ulo.pt);
  • The Portuguese Institute of Oncology of Coimbra Francisco Gentil, E.P.E.: Ana Luís Garcia; Tiago Nogueira
  • University of Coimbra (Laboratory of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics (LBIM); Faculty of Medicine (Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR); Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research (CIBIT); Faculty of Sports Sciences and Physical Education(Research Unit for Sport and Physical Activity (CIDAF)): Bárbara Oliveiros; Raul A. Martins
  • Portuguese Cancer League: Sónia Silva

Duration: 48 months (2021-2024)

Institutional Partners and Others: 

  • University of Coimbra
  • Portuguese Cancer League
  • Unidade Local de Saúde da Região de Leiria, E.P.E.
  • Hospital Distrital de Santarém
  • Hospital Distrital da Figueira da Foz

Reference: REF UIDB/05704/2020

Funding:

  • FCT 
  • Mecenato científico: Physioclem e ImoNazaré

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