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Predictors of functional capacity in colorectal cancer patients

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Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this study is to determine the predictors of functional capacity and explore the relationship between functional capacity, performance status, fatigue, quality of life, anxiety, and depression in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients.

Methods

Forty-two patients diagnosed as stage II–III CRC according to tumor, node, metastasis (TNM) classification were included the study. Functional capacity, performance status, fatigue, quality of life, anxiety, and depression of CRC patients were assessed using six-minute walk distance (6MWD) in the six-minute walk test (6MWT), Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status (ECOG-PS), Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI), Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Colorectal (FACT-C), and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), respectively. A multiple linear regression model was used to identify independent predictors of functional capacity.

Results

The six-minute walk distance (6MWD) was intermediately and negatively correlated with ECOG-PS score (p = 0.001, r = −0.415), BFI-impact of fatigue on daily functioning score (p = 0.013, r = −0.379), and age (p = 0.040, r = −0.319). An intermediate and positive correlation was found between 6MWD and FACT-C score (p = 0.016, r = 0.369). The multiple regression analysis revealed that only ECOG-PS score was significant and independent predictor of the 6MWD, accounted for 34.8 % of the variance.

Conclusion

Performance status was found to be the only significant predictor of functional capacity in this study. Assessing performance status may have an essential role in order to predict functional capacity in CRC patients. Future studies that include a larger sample size would more clearly elucidate the predictors and relationships of functional capacity.

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Acknowledgments

No funding was received for this manuscript. We thank all patients for their participation in the study. Special thanks to DEU Department of Medical Oncology and Radiation Oncology for their cooperation.

Conflict of interest

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Dokuz Eylul University, Inciralti, Izmir, Turkey

    Murat Tomruk & Didem Karadibak

  2. Department of Internal Medicine and Division of Medical Oncology, Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, Turkey

    Tuğba Yavuzşen

  3. Department of Medical Oncology, Izmir Tepecik Education and Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey

    Tülay Akman

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  1. Murat Tomruk
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  2. Didem Karadibak
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Correspondence to Murat Tomruk.

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Tomruk, M., Karadibak, D., Yavuzşen, T. et al. Predictors of functional capacity in colorectal cancer patients. Support Care Cancer 23, 2747–2754 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-015-2639-3

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