Effects of exercise dose and type during breast cancer chemotherapy on longer‐term patient‐reported outcomes and health‐related fitness: A randomized controlled trial. Issue 1 (27th June 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: An, Ki‐Yong; Morielli, Andria R.; Kang, Dong‐Woo; Friedenreich, Christine M.; McKenzie, Donald C.; Gelmon, Karen; Mackey, John R.; Reid, Robert D.; Courneya, Kerry S.
• Is Part Of: International journal of cancer. Volume 146:Issue 1(2020)
• Page Start: 150
• Page End: 160
• Publication Date: 2019-06-27
• Subjects: cancer survivors -- exercise -- quality of life -- exercise behavior -- health‐related fitness; Cancer -- Periodicals; Cancer -- Prevention -- Periodicals; 616.994
• DOI: 10.1002/ijc.32493
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0020-7136

Abstract

Abstract : The Combined Aerobic and Resistance Exercise (CARE) Trial compared different types and doses of exercise performed during breast cancer chemotherapy. Here, we report the longer‐term follow‐up of patient‐reported outcomes, health‐related fitness and exercise behavior at 6, 12 and 24 months postintervention. A multicenter trial in Canada randomized 301 breast cancer patients initiating chemotherapy to thrice weekly, supervised exercise consisting of a standard dose of 25–30 min of aerobic exercise (STAN; n = 96), a higher dose of 50–60 min of aerobic exercise (HIGH; n = 101) or a combined dose of 50–60 min of aerobic and resistance exercise (COMB; n = 104) performed for the duration of chemotherapy (median of 17 weeks). Primary outcomes were patient‐reported outcomes including quality of life, cancer‐related symptoms and psychosocial outcomes. Secondary outcomes were objective health‐related fitness (assessed at 12 months only) and self‐reported exercise behavior. A total of 269 (89.4%) participants completed patient‐reported outcomes at all three follow‐up time points and 263 (87.4%) completed the health‐related fitness assessment at 12‐month follow‐up. COMB was significantly superior to ( i ) STAN for sleep quality at 6‐month follow‐up ( p = 0.027); ( ii ) HIGH for upper body muscular endurance at 12‐month follow‐up ( p = 0.020); and ( iii ) HIGH for meeting the resistance exercise guideline at 6‐month follow‐up ( p = 0.006). Moreover, self‐reported meeting of the combined exercise guideline during follow‐up was significantly associated with better patient‐reported outcomes and health‐related fitness. Performing combined exercise during and after breast cancer chemotherapy may result in better longer‐term patient‐reported outcomes and health‐related fitness compared to performing aerobic exercise alone. Abstract : What's new? While exercise during chemotherapy for breast cancer is associated with various improvements in patient health, including improved quality of life, it remains unclear what type and dose of exercise is most beneficial over the long term. Here, the long‐term effects of different exercise regimens on patient health were compared among stage I‐IIIc breast cancer patients initiating adjuvant chemotherapy. Relative to aerobic exercise alone, combined aerobic and resistance exercise yielded the greatest benefits for patients, both during and after chemotherapy. In particular, combined aerobic and resistance exercise was associated with superior upper and lower body muscular endurance and improved sleep quality.