Objectives
To investigate the effect of chemotherapy on cognitive function, cardiorespiratory fitness and physical activity in breast cancer patient.
Methods
From June 2017 to April 2018, patients between the ages of 40-70 who underwent surgery due to breast cancer in the department of the breast and thyroid surgery were enrolled. A total 10 patients were recruited and divided into two groups. Patients treated with chemotherapy are chemotherapy group (n=5), and patients who did not receive chemotherapy are non-chemotherapy group (n=5).
Age, types of breast cancer surgery, history of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, education level, Korean version of the Mini-Mental State Exam (K-MMSE), Beck depression inventory (BDI) were collected as demographic data. In addition, we performed the Korean version of Montreal cognitive assessment (MOCA-K), Computerized Neuro-cognitive Function Test (CNT) for cognitive function evaluation and evaluated the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) to measure physical activity level. We also performed cardiopulmonary exercise test using modified Bruce protocol to evaluate cardiorespiratory fitness. All outcomes were measured after surgery (T0, baseline) and immediately after the anti-cancer therapy (T1).
Results
Among the chemotherapy group, the mean age was 56.2 ± 8.1, and 48.8 ± 4.3 in the non-chemotherapy group. In chemotherapy group, breast cancer stage 2 and 3 were more frequent, and mastectomy was performed more frequently. Education level, K-MMSE, BDI scores did not showed significant differences between two groups (Table 1).
No significant differences were found between two groups in the cognitive function outcomes at T0. There was also no significant change in cognitive function outcomes between T0 and T1 in both groups when compared within each group. In IPAQ, there was no significant difference between the two groups, but the ratio of Category 2 at T1 was increased in both groups (Table 2).
Similarly, there was no significant difference between the two groups in the cardiorespiratory fitness parameters at T0. However, anaerobic threshold (AT) was significantly lower in the chemotherapy group than in the non-chemotherapy group at T1 (18.38 and 24.66 respectively, p<0.05) (Table 3).
Conclusions
Chemotherapy did not significantly affect cognitive function, cardiorespiratory fitness, and physical activity at the time immediately after chemotherapy in breast cancer patients. However, further evaluation of the effect of chemotherapy on these parameters over time will be needed in future through a long-term follow up evaluation. |
