Telemedicine-based exercise intervention in cancer survivors: a non-randomized controlled trial
Abstract Cancer survivors (CS) often experience treatment-related side effects, such as fatigue, and have reduced physical function. Regular physical activity has been demonstrated to reduce these symptoms and improve cardiopulmonary fitness. Digital solutions are needed to optimize exercise options...
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Nature Portfolio
2024-12-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-83846-x |
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| author | Verena Krell Johanna Porst Lorena Hafermann Jessica Kuhn Franziska Greiß Claudia Römer Bernd Wolfarth |
| author_facet | Verena Krell Johanna Porst Lorena Hafermann Jessica Kuhn Franziska Greiß Claudia Römer Bernd Wolfarth |
| author_sort | Verena Krell |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Cancer survivors (CS) often experience treatment-related side effects, such as fatigue, and have reduced physical function. Regular physical activity has been demonstrated to reduce these symptoms and improve cardiopulmonary fitness. Digital solutions are needed to optimize exercise options for CS in aftercare, especially given the significant limitations during the Covid-19 pandemic. This two-armed, non-randomized, controlled intervention study for CS aims to investigate whether a telemedicine-based exercise intervention is as effective as the current standard of care for oncological exercise therapy in aftercare. Patients in the intervention group (n = 61) performed a telemedicine-based exercise program (TE) and patients in the control group (n = 31) participated in an existing rehabilitation sports group (RG) over a six-month intervention period. The primary outcome was cardiopulmonary fitness measured by VO2peak; secondary outcomes included quality of life (QoL), fatigue, and physical activity. A non-inferiority analysis was performed with a predefined non-inferiority margin for relative VO2peak of -1.50 ml/min/kg. Although TE demonstrated a slight advantage in relative VO2peak compared to RG (adjusted mean difference of 0.55 ml/min/kg [95% CI: -2.74; 3.84]), the non-inferiority was not statistically significant. Nevertheless, the implementation of a telemedicine-based exercise intervention indicates that individual patients respond well to this type of exercise program and benefit from the intervention, particularly in terms of QoL. Finding an individualized program for each cancer survivor is the overarching goal. A telemedicine-based exercise intervention may be a promising option, particularly for younger patients. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-bee610f46bc94965ad05c4f86f1a8f23 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-bee610f46bc94965ad05c4f86f1a8f232025-08-20T02:57:36ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222024-12-0114111310.1038/s41598-024-83846-xTelemedicine-based exercise intervention in cancer survivors: a non-randomized controlled trialVerena Krell0Johanna Porst1Lorena Hafermann2Jessica Kuhn3Franziska Greiß4Claudia Römer5Bernd Wolfarth6Department of Sports Medicine, Charité – Universitätsmedizin BerlinDepartment of Sports Medicine, Charité – Universitätsmedizin BerlinInstitute of Biometry and Clinical Epidemiology, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität and Humboldt-Universität zu BerlinDepartment of Sports Medicine, Charité – Universitätsmedizin BerlinDepartment of Sports Medicine, Charité – Universitätsmedizin BerlinDepartment of Pediatrics, Division of Oncology and Hematology, Charité – Universitätsmedizin BerlinDepartment of Sports Medicine, Charité – Universitätsmedizin BerlinAbstract Cancer survivors (CS) often experience treatment-related side effects, such as fatigue, and have reduced physical function. Regular physical activity has been demonstrated to reduce these symptoms and improve cardiopulmonary fitness. Digital solutions are needed to optimize exercise options for CS in aftercare, especially given the significant limitations during the Covid-19 pandemic. This two-armed, non-randomized, controlled intervention study for CS aims to investigate whether a telemedicine-based exercise intervention is as effective as the current standard of care for oncological exercise therapy in aftercare. Patients in the intervention group (n = 61) performed a telemedicine-based exercise program (TE) and patients in the control group (n = 31) participated in an existing rehabilitation sports group (RG) over a six-month intervention period. The primary outcome was cardiopulmonary fitness measured by VO2peak; secondary outcomes included quality of life (QoL), fatigue, and physical activity. A non-inferiority analysis was performed with a predefined non-inferiority margin for relative VO2peak of -1.50 ml/min/kg. Although TE demonstrated a slight advantage in relative VO2peak compared to RG (adjusted mean difference of 0.55 ml/min/kg [95% CI: -2.74; 3.84]), the non-inferiority was not statistically significant. Nevertheless, the implementation of a telemedicine-based exercise intervention indicates that individual patients respond well to this type of exercise program and benefit from the intervention, particularly in terms of QoL. Finding an individualized program for each cancer survivor is the overarching goal. A telemedicine-based exercise intervention may be a promising option, particularly for younger patients.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-83846-xExercise oncologyCancer survivorsWearable activity trackerCOVID-19Controlled studySupportive cancer care |
| spellingShingle | Verena Krell Johanna Porst Lorena Hafermann Jessica Kuhn Franziska Greiß Claudia Römer Bernd Wolfarth Telemedicine-based exercise intervention in cancer survivors: a non-randomized controlled trial Scientific Reports Exercise oncology Cancer survivors Wearable activity tracker COVID-19 Controlled study Supportive cancer care |
| title | Telemedicine-based exercise intervention in cancer survivors: a non-randomized controlled trial |
| title_full | Telemedicine-based exercise intervention in cancer survivors: a non-randomized controlled trial |
| title_fullStr | Telemedicine-based exercise intervention in cancer survivors: a non-randomized controlled trial |
| title_full_unstemmed | Telemedicine-based exercise intervention in cancer survivors: a non-randomized controlled trial |
| title_short | Telemedicine-based exercise intervention in cancer survivors: a non-randomized controlled trial |
| title_sort | telemedicine based exercise intervention in cancer survivors a non randomized controlled trial |
| topic | Exercise oncology Cancer survivors Wearable activity tracker COVID-19 Controlled study Supportive cancer care |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-83846-x |
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