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Impact of age on the recovery of six-minute walking distance after lung cancer surgery: a retrospective cohort study

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Abstract

Purpose

The aim was to investigate the relationship of age for recovery of six-minute walking distance (6MWD), pulmonary function, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) after lung cancer surgery.

Methods

Primary outcome was the 6MWD recovery until 6 months after surgery. Secondary outcome was the recoveries of forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and HRQOL until 6 months after surgery. Linear mixed-effects model was used to estimate the association of age to the outcomes.

Results

A total of 311 lung cancer patients were included. All the 6MWD, FEV1, and HRQOL decreased after surgery (− 32 m, − 0.39L, and − 2 scores, respectively, p = 0.027—p < 0.001). While 6MWD increased every month after surgery (5 m/month, 95% confidence interval (CI); 4–7, p < 0.001), the recovery decreased, as the age increased 1 standard deviation (SD) (i.e., 9 years) (− 2 m/month; 95% CI − 3 to − 1, p < 0.001). While FEV1 increased every month after surgery (0.03 L/month; 95% CI 0.02–0.03, p < 0.001), the recovery increased, as the age increased by 1 SD (0.01 L/month; 95% CI 0.00–0.01, p = 0.003), which was opposite to the 6MWD recovery. While the postoperative HRQOL recovered every month (2 score/month; 95% CI 1–2, p < 0.001), there was no significant association between the recovery and age (0 score/month; 95% CI − 1 to 0, p = 0.5).

Conclusions

The 6MWD recovery delayed in elderly patients, which was not related to their FEV1-and HRQOL recoveries. Postoperative walking training would be important for the elderly lung cancer patients.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Rehabilitation, Kameda Medical Center, Chiba, Japan

    Hiroshi Saito

  2. Emergency and Trauma Center, Kameda Medical Center, Chiba, Japan

    Atsushi Shiraishi

  3. Department of Thoracic Surgery, Kashiwa Kousei General Hospital, 617 Shikoda, Kashiwa city, Chiba, 277-0862, Japan

    Hiroaki Nomori

  4. Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Health Economics, School of Public Health, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan

    Hiroki Matsui

  5. Clinical Research Support Division, Kameda Institute for Health Science, Kameda College of Health Sciences, Kamogawa, Japan

    Hiroki Matsui

  6. Division of Rheumatology, Immunology and Allergy, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    Kazuki Yoshida

  7. Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Juntendo University, Tokyo, Japan

    Yuya Matsue

  8. Cardiovascular Respiratory Sleep Medicine, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan

    Yuya Matsue

  9. Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Service, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan

    Tomoko Fujii

  10. Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Research Centre, Monash University School of Public Health, Melbourne, Australia

    Tomoko Fujii

  11. Faculty of Human Science, University of Tsukuba, Tokyo, Japan

    Kennosuke Kawama

Authors
  1. Hiroshi Saito
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  2. Atsushi Shiraishi
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  3. Hiroaki Nomori
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  4. Hiroki Matsui
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  5. Kazuki Yoshida
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  6. Yuya Matsue
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  7. Tomoko Fujii
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  8. Kennosuke Kawama
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Correspondence to Hiroaki Nomori.

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Saito, H., Shiraishi, A., Nomori, H. et al. Impact of age on the recovery of six-minute walking distance after lung cancer surgery: a retrospective cohort study. Gen Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 68, 150–157 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11748-019-01191-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11748-019-01191-7

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