Efficacy of interdisciplinary rehabilitation in child cancer survivors: Impact on physical fitness, fatigue and body composition after 1-year follow-up
Corresponding Author
Ruth Van der Looven
Child Rehabilitation Centre, Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
Correspondence
Ruth Van der Looven, Child Rehabilitation Centre, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Ghent University Hospital, C. Heymanslaan 10, Route 445, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
Email: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorElise De Vos
Child Rehabilitation Centre, Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
Search for more papers by this authorKristof Vandekerckhove
Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
Search for more papers by this authorIlse Coomans
Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
Search for more papers by this authorGeneviève Laureys
Department of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
Search for more papers by this authorCatharina Dhooge
Department of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Ruth Van der Looven
Child Rehabilitation Centre, Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
Correspondence
Ruth Van der Looven, Child Rehabilitation Centre, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Ghent University Hospital, C. Heymanslaan 10, Route 445, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
Email: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorElise De Vos
Child Rehabilitation Centre, Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
Search for more papers by this authorKristof Vandekerckhove
Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
Search for more papers by this authorIlse Coomans
Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
Search for more papers by this authorGeneviève Laureys
Department of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
Search for more papers by this authorCatharina Dhooge
Department of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
Search for more papers by this authorFunding information: This study was funded by the Kinderkankerfonds vzw, Belgium, a non-profit childhood cancer foundation under Belgian law. The funding source was not involved in study design; in collection, analysis and interpretation of data; in the writing of the report and in the decision to submit the article for publication.
Ruth Van der Looven and Elise De Vos should be considered joint first authors.
Abstract
Objective
Childhood cancer survivors experience reduced physical activity level, participation as well as health-related quality of life. This prospective, pre-/post-intervention and follow-up cohort study aims to determine the efficacy of an interdisciplinary rehabilitation on improving physical fitness, fatigue and body composition.
Methods
A total of 24 childhood cancer survivors (mean age: 12.15 years ± 3.2; 14 females; 10 males) were recruited 6 months after medical treatment and received a 4-month interdisciplinary intervention. Cardiorespiratory fitness (PredVO2peak and PredLoadmax), body composition (dry lean weight) and quality of life (general fatigue) were assessed at baseline, post-intervention and 1-year follow-up. Linear mixed models were used to analyse data.
Results
Linear mixed modelling revealed a significant main effect of time on predicted maximal load (F = 13.189, df = 36.179, p < 0.001), dry lean weight (F = 64.813, df = 37.019, p < 0.001) but also significant improvement of general fatigue score (−9.039 ± 4.300, 95% CI −17.741 to −0.336, p = 0.042), indicating a decline in general fatigue.
Conclusion
With emerging evidence that physical activity is safe and feasible, together with increasing numbers of childhood cancer survivors at risk for long-term chronic co-morbidities, this study advocates for better access to interdisciplinary rehabilitation programmes in order to improve their physical condition and their body composition and reduce fatigue.
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
The authors declare no potential conflicts of interest.
Open Research
DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT
The data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author. The data are not publicly available due to privacy or ethical restrictions.
Supporting Information
| Filename | Description |
|---|---|
| ecc13761-sup-0001-STROBE checklist_EJCC.docWord document, 144 KB |
Data S1 Supporting Information |
| ecc13761-sup-0002-Supplementary_table.xlsxExcel 2007 spreadsheet , 11.8 KB |
Table S1 The table shows the results of the linear mixed model analysis. Data are provided as estimated marginal mean ± standard error (SE). Outcome variables were evaluated at baseline (T0), at 4 months (T1) and at 12 months follow-up (T2). |
Please note: The publisher is not responsible for the content or functionality of any supporting information supplied by the authors. Any queries (other than missing content) should be directed to the corresponding author for the article.
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