Physical activity in patients with gastrointestinal cancer undergoing outpatient chemotherapy

Purpose: To determine factors affecting physical activity in outpatients with gastrointestinal cancer. Methods: This observational study applied the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) to identify factors affecting physical activity in outpatients (male, n=51; female, n=24; mean age, 64.2±10.2 years) with gastrointestinal cancer undergoing chemotherapy. Relationships between the main outcome measures, total weekly physical activity score (TPA) and total weekly energy expenditure (TEE), and patient background factors were analyzed. Results: The median duration of induction chemotherapy in the 75 outpatients who completed the IPAQ was 242.5 (range 7-2, 294) days. The TPA and TEE tended to decrease in older patients and were lower in all patients compared with age-specific standard values for healthy persons. Both values tended to increase to a greater extent among patients who worked than among those who did not, and being employed was significantly associated with Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG-PS). The TEE tended to be lower among patients with adverse events (AE) such as pain. Conclusion: Progressive cachexia, changes in lifestyle, and AE affected physical activity among outpatients with gastrointestinal cancer undergoing chemotherapy. Comprehensive support by an oncology team would probably play an important role in encouraging elderly patients to participate in physical activity.