title: Physical function and health-related quality of life in patients undergoing surgical treatment for malignant pleural mesothelioma.
abstract: Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a rare cancer that affects the thin cell wall lining of internal organs and structures. Studies have shown that patients with lung cancer have decreased pulmonary function and exercise capacity after pneumonectomy. However, to date, physical function and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in surgically treated MPM patients have not been evaluated in detail. The aim of this study was to assess physical function and HRQOL of MPM patients following pleurectomy/decortication (P/D).
  
  
  
  The subjects were 22 MPM patients (20 men and 2 women) who completed P/D between December 2013 and March 2015. Physical function was assessed using handgrip strength and knee extensor strength tests, the 6-min walk distance (6MWD), and pulmonary function tests, including forced expiratory vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1). HRQOL was assessed using the Medical Outcome Study 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36).
  
  
  
  The handgrip strength (P < 0.05), 6MWD, FVC, and FEV1 values following P/D decreased significantly compared to baseline (P < 0.001 for each comparison). Additionally, scores of three of the eight SF-36 domains were significantly lower following P/D: physical functioning (P < 0.001), body pain (P = 0.002), and vitality (P = 0.005). 6MWD correlated role physical (P < 0.05) and vitality (P < 0.01). Significant correlations were also observed between FEV1 and physical functioning (P < 0.05) and social functioning (P < 0.05).
  
  
  
  Patients with MPM who completed P/D have decreased physical function and HRQOL. Following surgery, exercise capacity and pulmonary function decreased more than limb muscle strength. Physicians, nurses, and rehabilitation staff should note these findings, which may provide insight into the development of customized rehabilitation strategies for patients with MPM who completed P/D.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation, Hyogo College of Medicine Hospital, 1-1 Mukogawa-cho, Nishinomiya, Hyogo, 663-8501, Japan. pt-tana@hyo-med.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.affiliation: Institute for Human Movement and Medical Sciences, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, Niigata, Japan.|Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Hyogo College of Medicine, Nishinomiya, Japan.
authors.forename: Shinichiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Morishita
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Hyogo College of Medicine, Nishinomiya, Japan.
authors.forename: Masaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hashimoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation, Hyogo College of Medicine Hospital, 1-1 Mukogawa-cho, Nishinomiya, Hyogo, 663-8501, Japan.
authors.forename: Yusuke
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Itani
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation, Hyogo College of Medicine Hospital, 1-1 Mukogawa-cho, Nishinomiya, Hyogo, 663-8501, Japan.
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mabuchi
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Hyogo College of Medicine, Nishinomiya, Japan.
authors.forename: Norihiko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kodama
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Hyogo College of Medicine, Nishinomiya, Japan.
authors.forename: Seiki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hasegawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Hyogo College of Medicine, Nishinomiya, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuhisa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Domen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D018737:Hand Strength; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000473:pathology / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000601:surgery; D000086002:Mesothelioma, Malignant; D008875:Middle Aged; D010997:Pleural Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000601:surgery; D011013:Pneumonectomy / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D019616:Thoracic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Health-related quality of life; Malignant pleural mesothelioma; Physical function; Rehabilitation