Health-related quality of life and pulmonary function in lung cancer patients undergoing medical rehabilitation treatment.
Treatment for lung cancer results in reduced Quality of Life (QoL) and limited lung function are well-known. Yet, there are no results available concerning the interaction of objective lung function tests and QoL parameters for lung cancer patients during in-patient cancer rehabilitation. This is also true for outcome parameters in medical rehabilitation. The aim was to study the impact of lung and cardiopulmonary function on QoL (EORTC-QLQ C-30 and SF-36 Health Survey) and to identify possible outcome parameters for a rehab program. 56 lung cancer patients participated. Inpatient rehabilitation consisted of individual aerobic exercise and physical, psychological, social, educational and recreational components and only led to a gain of QoL by SF-36 Health Survey sub scales "Vitality" and "Mental Health". Lung function parameters improved; yet the correlation between lung function and health-related QoL questionnaires was not significant. Multivariate analysis for groups with high and low performance in lung functioning showed differences in the SF-36 Health Survey "Vitality" and "Mental Health" sub-scales. However, patients with high and low functional performance of the lungs did not differ in their QoL over time. Health-related QoL and pulmonary function therefore seem to be independent dimensions. Thus, for judging the outcome and success of medical rehabilitation of lung cancer patients, both, QoL and pulmonary function have to be taken into account.
Lübbe
A S
AS
Cecilien-Klinik, Lindenstrasse 26, D-33175 Bad Lippspringe, Germany. cec-luebbe@t-online.de
Krischke
N R
NR
Dimeo
F
F
Forkel
S
S
Petermann
F
F
D000368:Aged; D005080:Exercise Test; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005858:Germany; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011013:Pneumonectomy / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012046:Rehabilitation / Q000592:standards; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires