Evaluation of the impact of physical exercise on quality of life and clinical outcomes among women undergoing treatment for breast cancer

ABSTRACT

To evaluate the association between the practice of physical exercises, quality of life and clinical outcomes in women diagnosed with and undergoing treatment for breast cancer. Cohort study, following-up women during 6 months after treatment beginning for breast cancer. A total of 149 participants were recruited for convenience in a private hospital with a specialized service for cancer treatment. Sociodemographic data, practice of physical exercise, duration of exercise per week and domains of quality of life were evaluated through specific questionnaires (EORTC-QLQ-C30/EORTC-QLQ-BR23), that aims to measure the following variables: daily tasks, physical, emotional, performance score, pain, fatigue, symptoms, treatment side effects, and global health status. The interviews with the patients were carried out during the diagnosis period and after six months of treatment. The average age of the study participants is 58.0 years old [IQ: 44.0-68.0], with the majority of white ethnicity (99.3%). After 6 months of treatment, it has been found that 52.3% of patients (n=78) were practicing some physical exercise. Patients who were practicing exercises during the treatment period had better scores in terms of emotional, social, functional performance, symptoms, global health status and the sum of quality of life scores six months after starting the treatment than those who did not exercise at all (p<0.05). The weekly physical exercise period showed a significant direct correlation with some QoL scores. Finally, the regression analysis showed that women who have practiced physical exercise during treatment had better conditions in terms of physical and daily tasks performance and lower levels of fatigue. Women who have kept regular physical exercises during the treatment for breast cancer have had better health results. Physical exercise is an important activity that should be considered in order to have a healthy routine, as it improves all quality of life domains globally.

RESUMO

Avaliar a associação entre prática de exercícios físicos, qualidade de vida e desfechos clínicos em mulheres diagnosticadas e em tratamento para câncer de mama. Estudo de coorte, acompanhamento de mulheres durante 6 meses após o início do tratamento para câncer de mama. Um total de 149 participantes foi recrutado por conveniência em um hospital privado com serviço especializado para tratamento oncológico. Dados sociodemográficos, prática de exercício físico, duração do exercício por semana e domínios da qualidade de vida foram avaliados por meio de questionários específicos (EORTC-QLQ-C30/EORTC-QLQ-BR23), que visam medir as seguintes variáveis: tarefas diárias, físicas, emocionais, escore de desempenho, dor, fadiga, sintomas, efeitos colaterais do tratamento e estado de saúde global. As entrevistas com as pacientes foram realizadas durante o período de diagnóstico e após seis meses de tratamento. A idade média das participantes do estudo é de 58,0 anos [QI: 44,0-68,0], com a maioria de etnia branca (99,3%). Após 6 meses de tratamento, verificou-se que 52,3% das pacientes (n=78) praticavam algum exercício físico. As pacientes que praticaram exercícios durante o período de tratamento tiveram melhores escores em termos de desempenho emocional, social, funcional, sintomas, estado de saúde global e soma dos escores de qualidade de vida seis meses após o início do tratamento do que aqueles que não praticaram nenhum exercício (p<0,05). O período de exercício físico semanal apresentou correlação direta significativa com alguns escores de qualidade de vida. Por fim, a análise de regressão mostrou que as mulheres que praticaram exercícios físicos durante o tratamento apresentaram melhores condições de desempenho físico e de tarefas diárias e menores níveis de fadiga. As mulheres que mantiveram exercícios físicos regulares durante o tratamento do câncer de mama tiveram melhores resultados na saúde. O exercício físico é uma atividade importante que deve ser considerada para uma rotina saudável, pois melhora globalmente todos as áreas da qualidade de vida.

Keywords:

Breast neoplasms - Quality of life - Exercise

Descritores:

Neoplasias da mama - Qualidade de vida - Exercício

Publikationsverlauf

Eingereicht: 29. Dezember 2022

Angenommen: 17. Juli 2023

Artikel online veröffentlicht:
31. August 2023

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