Effects of exercise dose and type during breast cancer chemotherapy on longer-term patient-reported outcomes and health-related fitness: A randomized controlled trial.
Level 2 - randomized trial
Individual randomized controlled trial
PubMed 31173341 · doi:10.1002/ijc.32493
What was done
The Canadian multicenter Combined Aerobic and Resistance Exercise (CARE) trial randomized 301 breast cancer patients initiating chemotherapy (median duration 17 weeks) into three thrice-weekly supervised exercise regimens: standard-dose aerobic exercise (STAN, 25–30 min; n = 96), high-dose aerobic exercise (HIGH, 50–60 min; n = 101), or combined aerobic and resistance exercise (COMB, 50–60 min; n = 104). Follow-up assessments occurred at 6, 12, and 24 months post-intervention. Primary outcomes were patient-reported quality of life, symptoms, and psychosocial functioning; secondary outcomes were objective health-related fitness (tested at 12 months only) and self-reported exercise behavior.
What was found
Follow-up retention was high: 269 patients (89.4%) completed patient-reported outcomes across all follow-ups, and 263 (87.4%) completed the 12-month fitness testing. COMB was significantly superior to STAN for sleep quality at 6 months (p = 0.027). COMB was also superior to HIGH for upper body muscular endurance at 12 months (p = 0.020) and for meeting resistance exercise guidelines at 6 months (p = 0.006). Adherence to combined exercise guidelines across follow-up was significantly associated with better patient-reported outcomes and fitness. Absolute scores, effect sizes, and group means were not reported in the abstract.
Why it matters
Incorporating resistance training alongside aerobic exercise during adjuvant chemotherapy provides sustained benefits for sleep quality and muscular endurance compared to aerobic training alone.
Limits
Specific numerical scores, group means, and confidence intervals for primary endpoints are omitted from the abstract. Objective fitness was measured only at 12 months rather than at all follow-up intervals, and exercise behavior during follow-up relied on self-reporting.
Cited by
- supports The CARE trial examined high-dose aerobic exercise (150 min/week vigorous), moderate-dose aerobic exercise (75 min/week vigorous), and combined aerobic and resistance exercise in breast cancer patients.