Effectiveness of a 12-month Exercise Intervention on Physical Activity and Quality of Life of Breast Cancer Survivors; Five-year Results of the BREX-study.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine whether improvements in physical activity (PA) or physical performance (measured by a 2-km walking test) positively impact the quality of life (QoL) of breast cancer patients.
Results Summary
Participants who increased their PA or improved their 2-km walking test performance showed significant improvements in global health, physical and social functioning, role functioning, fatigue, body image, and future perspectives. No significant differences were found between groups.
Population
Breast cancer patients post-adjuvant treatments (n=444).
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
12-month exercise intervention, with 5-year follow-up.
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
exercise intervention | increase | global health score | breast cancer patients | RRR=1.02, p=0.016 | improved | #1 |
exercise intervention | increase | physical functioning | breast cancer patients | RRR=1.02, p=0.009 | improved | #2 |
exercise intervention | increase | social functioning | breast cancer patients | RRR=1.03, p=0.013 | improved | #3 |
exercise intervention | increase | role functioning | breast cancer patients | RRR=1.03, p=0.005 | improved | #4 |
exercise intervention | decrease | fatigue | breast cancer patients | RRR=1.02, p=0.002 | improved | #5 |
improved 2-km walking test | increase | global health | breast cancer patients | p=0.011 | associated to improved | #6 |
improved 2-km walking test | increase | physical functioning | breast cancer patients | p<0.001 | associated to improved | #7 |
improved 2-km walking test | increase | role functioning | breast cancer patients | p=0.001 | associated to improved | #8 |
improved 2-km walking test | increase | body image | breast cancer patients | p=0.021 | associated to improved | #9 |
improved 2-km walking test | increase | future perspectives | breast cancer patients | p=0.012 | associated to improved | #10 |
improved 2-km walking test | decrease | fatigue | breast cancer patients | p=0.003 | associated to improved | #11 |
exercise intervention | no change | - | breast cancer patients | no significant difference | No significant difference between the groups was found | #12 |
BACKGROUND/AIM: This is a report of the 5-year quality of life (QoL) findings of the BREX-study (n=444). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A 12-month exercise intervention was arranged shortly after adjuvant treatments. Physical activity (PA) was assessed by PA diary, physical performance by a 2- km walking test, QoL by the EORTC QLQC30 and BR-23 questionnaires, fatigue by the FACIT-Fatigue scale and depression by the Beck's 13-item depression scale (BDI). RESULTS: Participants who improved their PA from baseline to 5-year follow-up were more likely to improve their global health score (RRR=1.02, p=0.016), physical (RRR=1.02, p=0.009), social (RRR=1.03, p=0.013), role functioning (RRR=1.03, p=0.005), and fatigue (RRR=1.02, p=0.002). An improved 2-km walking test was associated to improved global health, physical and role functioning, body image, future perspectives, and fatigue (p=0.011, p<0.001, p=0.001, p=0.021, p=0.012 and p=0.003). No significant difference between the groups was found. CONCLUSION: Improvement in PA or physical performance yields a positive change in QoL of breast cancer patients.