Aspirot-Buron V1, Batcho C1, Bisson M2, Martel J2, Michon B2, Dugas M-A2, Marc I2, Corbeil P1
1Laval University- CIRRIS, Québec, Canada, 2Laval University, Québec, Canada
Background: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia is the most prevalent childhood cancer. Survivors are at a higher for dyslipidemia, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Studies have shown that survivors of childhood tend to have reduced cardiorespiratory fitness decades after the end of treatment.
Purpose: Most studies have evaluated the cardiorespiratory fitness of survivors, thus our aim was to test the feasability of conducting cardiorespiratory testing with children undergoing the first eight months of their chemotherapy.
Methods: 1 participant (female, 11 years old) took part to two testing sessions. The first testing session (T1) was after of the end of induction and the second session (T2) was at the beginning of the second consolidation phase of chemotherapy. Cardiorespiratory fitness was assessed directly with a maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) test on an ergocycle with the James protocol. Physical activity level was recorded through a questionnaire and physical status was obtained through auditing the participant´s physical therapy file.
Results: At T1, the participant had a VO2max of 19.8 ml/kg/min compared to 26.4 ml/kg/min at T2. Her maximal oxygen consumption increased by 33% from T1 to T2. However, at T2 for her age and gender, her predicted VO2max was 41.7 ml/kg/min which means that she was at 63% of her predicted value.
Conclusion(s): The participant´s cardiorespiratory fitness increased between the induction and second consolidation phase of chemotherapy. However, the participant remained deconditioned as she performed at less than two third of her estimated capacity for her age and gender. Although this study yielded some information on the cardiorespiratory status of a child with ALL during her chemotherapy and showed that testing was feasible, a bigger cohort would be needed to confirm our results.
Implications: Our study raises questions about the level of physical activity of children with ALL during their chemotherapy as well as what can be done to encourage them to be more physically active throughout their treatment. It also shows that they can do high intensity physical activity for a short period of time, despite having a serious illness.
Keywords: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia, Children, Cardiorespiratory
Funding acknowledgements: The study was supported by the Centre Mère-Enfant Soleil of CHU de Québec- Univiersité Laval research center.
Purpose: Most studies have evaluated the cardiorespiratory fitness of survivors, thus our aim was to test the feasability of conducting cardiorespiratory testing with children undergoing the first eight months of their chemotherapy.
Methods: 1 participant (female, 11 years old) took part to two testing sessions. The first testing session (T1) was after of the end of induction and the second session (T2) was at the beginning of the second consolidation phase of chemotherapy. Cardiorespiratory fitness was assessed directly with a maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) test on an ergocycle with the James protocol. Physical activity level was recorded through a questionnaire and physical status was obtained through auditing the participant´s physical therapy file.
Results: At T1, the participant had a VO2max of 19.8 ml/kg/min compared to 26.4 ml/kg/min at T2. Her maximal oxygen consumption increased by 33% from T1 to T2. However, at T2 for her age and gender, her predicted VO2max was 41.7 ml/kg/min which means that she was at 63% of her predicted value.
Conclusion(s): The participant´s cardiorespiratory fitness increased between the induction and second consolidation phase of chemotherapy. However, the participant remained deconditioned as she performed at less than two third of her estimated capacity for her age and gender. Although this study yielded some information on the cardiorespiratory status of a child with ALL during her chemotherapy and showed that testing was feasible, a bigger cohort would be needed to confirm our results.
Implications: Our study raises questions about the level of physical activity of children with ALL during their chemotherapy as well as what can be done to encourage them to be more physically active throughout their treatment. It also shows that they can do high intensity physical activity for a short period of time, despite having a serious illness.
Keywords: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia, Children, Cardiorespiratory
Funding acknowledgements: The study was supported by the Centre Mère-Enfant Soleil of CHU de Québec- Univiersité Laval research center.
Topic: Paediatrics; Oncology, HIV & palliative care; Cardiorespiratory
Ethics approval required: Yes
Institution: Universtité Laval
Ethics committee: Ethics committee of CHU de Québec- Université Laval
Ethics number: 2018-3727
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
