Low physical activity in patients diagnosed with head and neck cancer

Abstract

Background This pilot study aimed to describe physical activity (PA) and self‐perceived function, health and quality of life (QoL) prior to oncological treatment in patients with head and neck cancer (HNC). Methods In a prospective study including 49 patients, self‐perceived PA (Saltin‐Grimby scale) and health‐related QoL (European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life questionnaire Core 30 and EQ‐5D) were assessed. Further, PA was also measured by an accelerometer attached to the thigh for eight consecutive days. The accelerometer PA was compared to the PA of a reference population assessed with the same method. Results presented are from data collected before start of oncological treatment. Results The patients (44‐79 years, 65% males) spent most of their time in sedentary behavior: a median of 555 minutes/day in bed (39% of total) and 606 minutes/day sitting (41%). Only 129 minutes/day were spent moving/walking. Patients with higher education, reduced physical function and higher fatigue were less physically active (P ≤ .01). Further, the different PA measures demonstrated a pattern of being less physically active compared to the reference population. Conclusions Patients diagnosed for HNC may have low PA level. Assessment of PA from accelerometer data may be an important component of oncological treatment to identify patients in need for PA intervention that may enhance treatment outcome.

Safety and feasibility of cardiopulmonary exercise testing in head and neck cancer survivors

“…Low levels of physical activity were observed in the present study. Similarly low levels have been reported in previous studies for HaNC survivors in the United States (Rogers et al, 2006), Netherlands (Douma et al, 2020) and Sweden (Karczewska‐Lindinger et al, 2021). Moreover, the physical activity levels of HaNC survivors have been found to be significantly lower post‐treatment compared to pre‐treatment (Sammut et al, 2016).…”

“…Similarly low levels have been reported in previous studies for HaNC survivors in the United States (Rogers et al, 2006), Netherlands (Douma et al, 2020) and Sweden (Karczewska-Lindinger et al, 2021).…”

A pilot study using pre‐treatment physical activity level to predict long‐term health‐related quality of life in patients with head and neck cancer

“…Large deviations between self‐reported levels and levels obtained by more objective methods have been demonstrated, with both overestimation and underestimation, in members of the general population and in a HNC cohort 5,14,15 . Among patients with HNC, only few studies have used more objective assessment of PA, using an accelerometer 2,3 . Assessment of PA with an accelerometer has a stronger association with measures of cardiovascular disease than self‐reported PA as measured in a general population 16 …”

“…Patients diagnosed with HNC have a lower level of physical activity (PA) compared to a healthy population around the same age 1–3 ; one study reported that only 8.5% of the patients with HNC reached the recommended levels of exercise post‐treatment 1 as written in current public health guidelines, compared to 72% of the adult population globally 4 . Low levels of PA before HNC treatment have also been observed 3,5,6 …”

“…Therefore, the aim of this pilot longitudinal study was to investigate the association between accelerometer‐assessed PA levels before oncologic treatment for HNC and specific domains of HRQL in the EORTC QLQ‐C30 at 12 months after completion of oncologic treatment. Based on the results from the pre‐treatment data, 3 we hypothesized that accelerometer‐assessed PA before oncologic treatment would be associated with the HRQL domains physical function and fatigue at the 12 months follow‐up, that is, a higher degree of pre‐treatment PA would be associated with a better physical function and less fatigue. The domain physical function includes items regarding strenuous activities, being able to take long or short walks, the need for rest and ability to perform self‐care, and the domain fatigue targets the need for rest and feeling weak or tired 8 .…”