Exercise training for people following lung resection for non-small cell lung cancer - a Cochrane systematic review

Vinicius Cavalheri; Fatim Tahirah; Mika Nonoyama; Sue Jenkins; Kylie Hill

doi:10.1016/j.ctrv.2013.11.001

Exercise training for people following lung resection for non-small cell lung cancer - a Cochrane systematic review

Cancer Treat Rev. 2014 May;40(4):585-94. doi: 10.1016/j.ctrv.2013.11.001. Epub 2013 Nov 13.

Authors

Vinicius Cavalheri¹, Fatim Tahirah², Mika Nonoyama³, Sue Jenkins⁴, Kylie Hill⁵

Affiliations

¹ School of Physiotherapy and Exercise Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth, WA 6845, Australia; Lung Institute of Western Australia, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia. Electronic address: Vinicius.cavalher@postgrad.curtin.edu.au.
² School of Physiotherapy and Exercise Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth, WA 6845, Australia. Electronic address: F.mirzamoh@postgrad.curtin.edu.au.
³ Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing at the University of Toronto, 155 College Street, Suite 276, Toronto, Ontario M5T 1P8, Canada. Electronic address: mika.nonoyama@utoronto.ca.
⁴ School of Physiotherapy and Exercise Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth, WA 6845, Australia; Lung Institute of Western Australia, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia; Physiotherapy Department, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth, Australia. Electronic address: S.Jenkins@curtin.edu.au.
⁵ School of Physiotherapy and Exercise Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth, WA 6845, Australia; Lung Institute of Western Australia, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia. Electronic address: K.Hill@curtin.edu.au.

PMID: 24268442
DOI: 10.1016/j.ctrv.2013.11.001

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the effects of exercise training on exercise capacity, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), lung function (forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1)) and quadriceps force in people who have had a recent lung resection for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Data sources: We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, EMBASE, SciELO and PEDro up to February 2013.

Review methods: We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) in which study participants with NSCLC, who had recently undergone lung resection, were allocated to receive either exercise training or no exercise training. Two review authors screened and identified the studies for inclusion.

Results: We identified three RCTs involving 178 participants. On completion of the intervention period, exercise capacity, as measured by the six-minute walk distance, was statistically greater in the intervention group compared to the control group (mean difference (MD) 50.4m; 95% confidence interval (CI) 15.4-85.2m). No between-group differences were observed in HRQoL (standardised mean difference (SMD) 0.17; 95% CI -0.16-0.49) or FEV1 (MD -0.13L; 95% CI -0.36-0.11L). Differences in quadriceps force were not demonstrated on completion of the intervention period.

Conclusions: Evidence from our review suggests that exercise training may potentially increase the exercise capacity of people following lung resection for NSCLC. The findings of this review should be interpreted with caution due to disparities between the studies, methodological limitations, some significant risks of bias and small sample sizes.

Keywords: Carcinoma; Exercise capacity; Exercise training; Lung resection; Non-small cell lung.

Publication types

Review
Systematic Review

MeSH terms

Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / rehabilitation*
Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / surgery*
Exercise*
Humans
Lung Neoplasms / rehabilitation*
Lung Neoplasms / surgery*
Quality of Life
Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic