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Int J Sports Med 2021; 42(10): 924-929
DOI: 10.1055/a-1342-7347
Clinical Sciences

Physical Fitness and Health-related Quality of Life in Patients with Colorectal Cancer

Luisa Soares-Miranda 
1   Research Center in Physical Activity Health and Leisure, Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
,
Alejandro Lucia
2   Research Institute of Hospital 12 de Octubre (‘i+12’), Madrid, Spain
3   Universidad Europa de Madrid (Faculty of Sports Sciences), Madrid, Spain
,
Marco Silva
4   Gastroenterology Department, Centro Hospitalar São João, Porto, Portugal
,
Armando Peixoto
4   Gastroenterology Department, Centro Hospitalar São João, Porto, Portugal
,
Rosa Ramalho
4   Gastroenterology Department, Centro Hospitalar São João, Porto, Portugal
,
Pedro Correia da Silva
5   Department of Surgery, Centro Hospitalar São João, Porto, Portugal
,
Jorge Mota
1   Research Center in Physical Activity Health and Leisure, Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
,
Guilherme Macedo
4   Gastroenterology Department, Centro Hospitalar São João, Porto, Portugal
,
Sandra Abreu
1   Research Center in Physical Activity Health and Leisure, Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
› Author Affiliations Funding: Luisa Soares-Miranda is supported by grants SFRH/BPD/76947/2011 funded by FCT (QREN – POPH – Type 4.1 – Advanced training, subsidized by the European Social Fund and national funds of MEC), PTDC/DES/099018/2008 - FCT/FCOMP-01- 0124-FEDER-009573-. The Research Centre in Physical Activity Health and Leisure is supported by FCT: UID/DTP/00617/2013. Research by Alejandro Lucia is funded by Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias (FIS, grant # PI18/00139) and Fondos FEDER. Jorge Mota was supported by grants: FCT: SFRH/BSAB/142983/2018 and UID/DTP/00617/2019.
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Abstract

Colorectal cancer is now a frequently treatable illness for most and a chronic disease for many. The number of people living with a diagnosis of colorectal cancer is thus expected to rise. Yet even after successful treatment, colorectal cancer survivors, mostly the elderly, frequently experience health problems and impaired health-related quality of life. We investigated the cross-sectional association between physical fitness, measured with the 6-min walk test, 30-second chair-stand test, and isometric handgrip strength, as well as health-related quality of life, in a cohort of colorectal cancer patients (n=71, mean [SD] age 67±10 years, 63% men; 35, 39 and 25% in stages I, II and III, respectively). Greater performance in the 6-minute walk test and 30-second chair-stand test was associated with higher levels of global health status (p<0.001, p=0.001 respectively), higher functioning (p<0.001) and lower levels of symptomatology (p<0.001; pain and fatigue). Additionally, greater 6-min walk test performance was associated with a better cognitive function (p=0.005). Our results suggest that greater aerobic fitness and lower-extremity muscle strength are cross-sectionally associated with higher levels of global health status, higher functioning and lower levels of symptomatology such as pain and fatigue in colorectal cancer patients.

Key words

cancer survivors - fitness - 6-min walk test - quality of life


Publication History

Received: 23 July 2020

Accepted: 16 December 2020

Article published online:
25 February 2021

© 2021. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
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