2373 - Evaluation of Physical Activity, Biological Rhythm, and Eating Behavior in Cancer Patients Receiving Radiation Therapy
Presenter(s)
H. K. Gunduz1, H. Alkis1, A. Kornienko2, S. Girgin3, and M. Adli1; 1Department of Radiation Oncology, Marmara University School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey, 2Department of Radiation Oncology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, 3Department of Public Health, Marmara University School of Medicine, ISTANBUL, Turkey
Purpose/Objective(s): Impairment in physical activity (PA), biological rhythm (BR), and eating behavior (EB) result in worsened vital functions and cause several diseases. Quality of life is an important component of cancer management and improved PA, BR, and EB are shown to prevent cancer and affect the prognosis of cancer patients. The aim of this study is to investigate PA, BR, and EB of cancer patients receiving radiotherapy.
Materials/Methods: A total of 109 patients were included in the study. Patients were grouped according to primary tumor (rectal cancer, lung cancer, gastro-esophageal cancer, and others), goal of radiotherapy (neoadjuvant and adjuvant/palliative), and stage of disease (II/III and IV). International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF) was used for the assessment of PA. Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ) was used to assess EB. Biological Rhythms Interview of Assessment in Neuropsychiatry (BRIAN) form was used to assess BR. Questionnaires were administered on the first day of radiotherapy. PA, EB, and BR scores were recorded. Chi-square, Mann-Whitney U, and Kruskal-Wallis H tests were used for statistical analyses.
Results: Median age of the patients was 62. Male/female was 80/29. EB and BR scores were not significantly different in all of the patient groups (p>0.05). However, PA scores were found significantly different between stage groups. While 51.4% of the patients with stage II/III were inactive, 88.5% of patients with stage IV were inactive (p=0.001). When PA and BR scores were compared, mean BRIAN-sleep scores were higher in physically inactive patients compared to active ones (12.66±2.55 vs. 10.95±2.99) which was statistically significant (p=0.003). When BR and EB scores were compared, BRIAN-social rhythm scores were positively correlated with TFEQ-uncontrolled eating scores (p=0.004).
Conclusion: PA is correlated with stage of the disease, BR and EB. Physically inactive patients have more advanced disease and active patients have better BR and EB scores. In conclusion, increased PA is associated with improved sleep order/quality and reduced uncontrolled eating in cancer patients receiving radiotherapy.