Anxieties, age and motivation influence physical activity in patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms - a multicenter survey from the East German study group for hematology and oncology (OSHO #97)

Abstract

BackgroundPhysical activity (PA) is a non-pharmacological approach to alleviate symptom burden and improve health-related quality of life (HrQoL) in cancer patients (pts). Whether pts with myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) PA behavior changes due to symptom burden and/or knowledge of the putative beneficial effects of PA has not yet been investigated.MethodsWe performed a large questionnaire study in MPN pts. Self-reported PA behavior and potential influencing factors of 634 MPN pts were analyzed. Questionnaires were used to assess demographics, anxiety, severity of symptoms, HrQoL, current level of everyday and sports activities, and the level of information regarding the importance/possibilities of PA. According to their PA, the pts were assigned to the three groups: “inactive”, “non-targeted active”, and “sporty active” and compared with each other.ResultsKey findings are that in 73% of the pts, the disease had an impact on PA, with 30% of pts reducing their PA. The prevalence of anxieties (e.g., occurrence of thrombosis and bleeding) regarding PA was 45%. Sporty active pts had a lower symptom burden and better HrQoL (p ≤ 0.001) compared to the other groups. Inactive pts were significantly older and had a higher body mass index than sporty active pts. Inactive and non-targeted active pts felt less informed about the importance/possibilities of PA (p = 0.002).ConclusionOur results suggest that especially older and non-sporty MPN pts could benefit from motivational as well as disease-specific PA information. This study was registered at the German Registry of Clinical Trials, DRKS00023698.

Physical exercise recommendations for patients with polycythemia vera based on preferences identified in a large international patient survey study of the East German Study Group for Hematology and Oncology (OSHO #97)

“…Increasing PA, also in the form of daily activities, could help patients with PV regulate their body weight. This in turn might have a positive effect on symptom burden 26 and reduce the risk of falls 16,23 . In addition, it is known that in patients with MPN, QoL increases with higher activity levels, 27 and the likelihood of anxiety and depression decreases 12 …”

“…Therefore, PA recommendations should be integrated into the treatment of patients with PV. In this context, treating physicians should inform patients with PV of the true risk of thrombosis or severe bleeding during PA, as fears of such events are barriers to engaging in physical activities 16 . Considering that the likelihood of anxiety and depression is positively associated with total symptom burden and fatigue, respectively, and negatively associated with QoL, 12,41 psychological problems should also be systematically assessed and addressed accordingly 30 …”

“…In this context, treating physicians should inform patients with PV of the true risk of thrombosis or severe bleeding during PA, as fears of such events are barriers to engaging in physical activities. 16 Considering that the likelihood of anxiety and depression is positively associated with total symptom burden and fatigue, respectively, and negatively associated with QoL, 12,41 psychological problems should also be systematically assessed and addressed accordingly. 30 Another finding of this study is that exercise preferences in terms of volume among sports-inactive patients with PV are significantly below the general exercise recommendations of major health organizations.…”

“…This in turn might have a positive effect on symptom burden 26 and reduce the risk of falls. 16,23 In addition, it is known that in patients with MPN, QoL increases with higher activity levels, 27 and the likelihood of anxiety and depression decreases. 12 3.6.2 | Exercise recommendations When using targeted movement interventions to alleviate symptoms, patients with PV should focus attention on fatigue and pain.…”

“…In a large multicenter survey, performed within the framework of the East German Study Group for Hematology and Oncology, we analyzed the exercise behavior of patients with MPN 16 . The results showed, among other things, that especially patients with PV reduce their PA in everyday life as well as in sports due to the disease and the associated disease burden.…”