TY - JOUR
T1 - Children with cancer and their cardiorespiratory fitness and physical function-the long-term effects of a physical activity program during treatment
T2 - a multicenter non-randomized controlled trial
AU - Fridh, Martin Kaj
AU - Schmidt-Andersen, Peter
AU - Andrés-Jensen, Liv
AU - Thorsteinsson, Troels
AU - Wehner, Peder Skov
AU - Hasle, Henrik
AU - Schmiegelow, Kjeld
AU - Larsen, Hanne Bækgaard
N1 - © 2023. The Author(s).
PY - 2023/12/6
Y1 - 2023/12/6
N2 - PURPOSE: We aimed to determine the effects of a classmate-supported, supervised, in-hospital physical activity program during treatment primarily on cardiorespiratory fitness and secondarily on physical function.METHODS: A multicenter non-randomized controlled intervention study including children diagnosed with cancer, 6-18 years at diagnosis treated with chemo-/radiotherapy. The intervention comprised (i) an educational session on cancer in the child's school class; (ii) selection of two "ambassadors"-classmates who were co-admitted, supporting the child's everyday hospital life; and (iii) supervised in-hospital physical activity from diagnosis and throughout intensive treatment. One-year post-treatment, physical testing included cardiorespiratory fitness (primary outcome), Sit-to-Stand test, Timed-Up-and-Go, and Handgrip Strength.RESULTS: The intervention group included 75 of 120 children (61% boys, 13.4 ± 3.1 years); the control groups included 33 of 58 children with cancer (58% boys, 13.5 ± 2.5 years), and 94 age- and sex-matched children without a cancer history. One-year post-treatment, cardiorespiratory fitness tended to be higher in the intervention group (37.0 ± 6.0 mL/kg/min) than in the patient control group with cancer (32.3 ± 9.7 mL/kg/min) (mean difference 4.7 [0.4 to 9.1], p = 0.034). The intervention group performed better in the secondary outcomes. Compared with community controls, both patient groups had lower cardiorespiratory fitness. The patient control group had lower Sit-to-Stand, Timed Up and Go, and Handgrip Strength, while the intervention group had strength comparable to that of the community controls.CONCLUSIONS: Peer-supported, supervised, in-hospital physical activity during treatment may improve cardiorespiratory fitness and muscle strength 1-year post-treatment in children with cancer; however, survivors continue to have lower cardiorespiratory fitness than community controls.IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: Children with cancer may benefit from in-hospital physical activity in improving long-term cardiorespiratory fitness and muscle strength.
AB - PURPOSE: We aimed to determine the effects of a classmate-supported, supervised, in-hospital physical activity program during treatment primarily on cardiorespiratory fitness and secondarily on physical function.METHODS: A multicenter non-randomized controlled intervention study including children diagnosed with cancer, 6-18 years at diagnosis treated with chemo-/radiotherapy. The intervention comprised (i) an educational session on cancer in the child's school class; (ii) selection of two "ambassadors"-classmates who were co-admitted, supporting the child's everyday hospital life; and (iii) supervised in-hospital physical activity from diagnosis and throughout intensive treatment. One-year post-treatment, physical testing included cardiorespiratory fitness (primary outcome), Sit-to-Stand test, Timed-Up-and-Go, and Handgrip Strength.RESULTS: The intervention group included 75 of 120 children (61% boys, 13.4 ± 3.1 years); the control groups included 33 of 58 children with cancer (58% boys, 13.5 ± 2.5 years), and 94 age- and sex-matched children without a cancer history. One-year post-treatment, cardiorespiratory fitness tended to be higher in the intervention group (37.0 ± 6.0 mL/kg/min) than in the patient control group with cancer (32.3 ± 9.7 mL/kg/min) (mean difference 4.7 [0.4 to 9.1], p = 0.034). The intervention group performed better in the secondary outcomes. Compared with community controls, both patient groups had lower cardiorespiratory fitness. The patient control group had lower Sit-to-Stand, Timed Up and Go, and Handgrip Strength, while the intervention group had strength comparable to that of the community controls.CONCLUSIONS: Peer-supported, supervised, in-hospital physical activity during treatment may improve cardiorespiratory fitness and muscle strength 1-year post-treatment in children with cancer; however, survivors continue to have lower cardiorespiratory fitness than community controls.IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: Children with cancer may benefit from in-hospital physical activity in improving long-term cardiorespiratory fitness and muscle strength.
KW - Cardiorespiratory fitness
KW - Childhood cancer
KW - Muscle strength
KW - Peer support intervention
KW - Physical activity intervention
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85178924021&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s11764-023-01499-7
DO - 10.1007/s11764-023-01499-7
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 38057671
SN - 1932-2259
JO - Journal of cancer survivorship : research and practice
JF - Journal of cancer survivorship : research and practice
ER -