Abstract
Background: Patients with NSCLC present a significant impairment on physical function. Lung resection surgery may promote lower functional outcome resulting in decline on VO2peak which is an indicator of physical performance
Aims: To investigate the impact of lung resection surgery on VO2peak, peripheral and respiratory muscle strengthin patients with NSCLC.
Methods: We prospectively assessed VO2peak and muscle strength before and 4-6 weeks after surgery in a cohort of 37 patients, inclusion criteria was patients with resectable lung cancer in stage I or II and. VO2peak was assessed using a cycle ergometer with a progressive incremental protocol; peripheral muscle strength was assessed by quadriceps maximal voluntary contraction (QMVC) and respiratory muscle strength by maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressures (PImax and PEmax, respectively).Main outcome variables were changes in VO2peak, QMVC and respiratory muscle strength. Statistical analysis: Student t test for paired samples.
Results: Lung cancer patients (64.2±8.5 years, 67.6% male, 35.1% COPD, 73.0% lobectomy) after lung resection presented a decrease of 25% (2.9 ml/kg/min) in VO2peak (p<0.001, CI 95% -1.7 to -5.2). They also presented a significantly decrease on expiratory muscle strength (%PEmax, p<0.024, CI 95% -1.2 to -2.6). We did not observe any significant differences in PImax and QMVC.
Conclusion: Patients after recent lung cancer resection presented a significantly impairment on physical performance and expiratory muscle strength. An intervention targeting these outcomes should be considered after lung resection surgery for NSCLC.
- Copyright ©ERS 2015