Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Clinical Trial
Abstract: In recent years, the focus of rehabilitation for patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has shifted toward restoring social, communicative, occupational, and recreational activities, highlighting the need for further scientific substantiation of rehabilitation approaches. Of particular interest is the potential for predicting disability in patients with NSCLC during the long-term rehabilitation period. The aim of the study was to develop a predictive model and investigate the level of disability in patients with NSCLC during the long-term rehabilitation period. The study included 84 patients with NSCLC aged 49-74 years. In 58 patients of the main group (MG), therapeutic intervention programs were prescribed during the preoperative period and from the fifth week after surgery for a period of three months. Patients in the MG were divided into two subgroups: MG1 and MG2, with 29 patients in each subgroup. Patients in MG1 were prescribed moderate-intensity aerobic continuous cycling exercise on a cycle ergometer, whereas patients in MG2 underwent high-intensity interval training on a cycle ergometer. The control group (CG) comprised 26 patients who declined participation in the therapeutic intervention programs. Assessments were performed 14 days and 1 day before surgery, in 7 days, 1 month and 4 months after surgery. The following parameters were assessed: forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), overall endurance using the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) and disability using the 36-item World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (WHODAS 2.0). The greatest negative impact in patients with NSCLC was observed in the domains of getting along with people, life activities, and participation in society, which demonstrated a close interrelationship. A reduction in the overall level of disability according to WHODAS 2.0 was observed in the MG. Specifically, the disability score was 26.9 (11.4)% in MG1 and 23.2 (12.0)% in MG2, which was significantly lower than that observed in the CG – 42.0 (8.6)% (p<0.05). A predictive model for activity limitation based on the WHODAS 2.0 score in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) was developed; the most significant factors identified were the change in 6-minute walk test (6MWT) distance one month post-surgery compared to the preoperative level (regression coefficient B= -0.62), the 6MWT distance 14 days prior to surgery (B= -0.33), and FEV1 one month after surgery (B= -0.32) (p<0.05). According to the model, the most significant predictors were the change in 6MWT distance one month after surgery compared with the preoperative level (regression coefficient B= -0.62), 6MWT distance 14 days before surgery (B= -0.33), and FEV1 one month after surgery (B= -0.32; p<0.05). Thus, the implementation of therapeutic exercise during the prehabilitation period and following surgical intervention in patients with NSCLC is associated with a reduction in disability. FEV1and 6MWT performance are significant predictors of the level of disability during the long-term rehabilitation period.
Source: Medicni perspektivi
Institution: Dnipro State Medical University
Language: English
Topic: Cancer survivorship and care
Subfield: Oncology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7223575343