The aim of this study was to determine whether preoperative physical function predicts long-term HRQOL. The aim of this study was to determine whether preoperative physical function predicts long-term HRQOL.
Physical activity was measured via step count. Physical capacity was measured with the 6 minute walk test. The predicted value of 6MWD was calculated using Trooster’s 6MWD prediction equation. PC was defined as %6MWD. The value of %6MWD was defined as the percentage of 6MWD achieved relative to the predicted 6MWD. PA was measured by counting the number of steps with an accelerometer. The HJA-750C Active Style Pro accelerometer (OMRON HEALTHCARE Co., Ltd., Kyoto, Japan) was used to measure physical activity. Low and preserved physical performances were indicated with 100% and >100% PC and with 5000 and >5000 steps, respectively. PC and PA were used to create four groups: low PC, low PA (can’t do, don’t do); preserved PC, low PA (can do, don’t do); low PC, preserved PA (can’t do, do do); and preserved PC, preserved PA (can do, do do). Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) was assessed using the Japanese version of the EuroQol-5-Dimension 5-Level (EQ-5D-5L) questionnaire. HRQOL was assessed preoperatively and one year postoperatively. Differences between the quadrants were tested using non-parametric tests. The Kruskal–Wallis or chi-square tests, including post-hoc analyses (Bonferroni correction), were performed. All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS (Version 27, IBM, Armonk, NY, USA). Statistical significance was set at p0.05.
The distribution of 118 lung-cancer patients was as follows: “can’t do, don’t do,” 31.3%; “can do, don’t do,” 10.2%; “can’t do, do do,” 35.6%; and “can do, do do,” 22.9%. HRQOL scores were significantly higher for "can do, do do" compared to "can't do, don't do", both preoperatively and one year postoperatively（EQ5D5L index value ;p=0.00, EQ VAS;p=0.00).
Patients with low physical function preoperatively are likely to have lower long-term HRQOL so intervention should be preferentially delivered to them in the hope of bringing them up to the long-term HRQOL levels of their peers with preserved preoperative physical function.
These results could help clinicians to identify patients who are more likely to have poorer long-term HRQOL. Such patients should be a priority for preoperative and postoperative interventions to assist them to achieve the long-term HRQOL status of their peers with preserved physical function.
lung cancer
preoperative Physical function
