Associations Between Objectively Measured Physical Activity and Quality of Life in Cancer Patients With Brain Metastases

ContextPhysical activity has demonstrated benefits for quality of life (QoL) and cancer-related fatigue earlier in the cancer trajectory; however, less is known regarding its role in patients with end-stage cancer.ObjectivesThe primary aim of this study was to examine the association between objectively measured physical activity and QoL in cancer patients with brain metastases.MethodsPatients diagnosed with brain metastases, aged 18 years or older, cognitively intact, and with Palliative Performance Scale scores greater than 30%, were recruited from a multidisciplinary brain metastases clinic. A cross-sectional survey interview assessed self-reported QoL (McGill Quality of Life Questionnaire), self-reported physical function (Late-Life Function and Disability Instrument), and symptoms (Edmonton Symptom Assessment System). Participants wore activPAL™ (PAL Technologies, Ltd., Glasgow, UK) accelerometers recording triaxial movement for seven days during palliative whole brain radiotherapy.ResultsA total of 31 patients were recruited. Median survival was 171 days from time of study consent, with 90% (28 of 31) of deaths by two year follow-up. Participants who stood for 1.6 hours or more per day had better QoL (mean = 1.0; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.1 to 1.9; P = 0.034). Participants who stood for 1.6 hours or more per day had better QoL (mean = 1.0; 95% CI = 0.1 to 1.9; P = 0.034). Participants who sat or were supine for 20.7 hours or more per day had better advanced lower extremity functioning (mean = −6.1; 95% CI = −11.9 to −0.3; P = 0.040) and total functioning (mean = −10.6; 95% CI = −21.1 to −0.04; P = 0.049), but worse depression (mean = 2.1; 95% CI = 0.3 to 3.9; P = 0.028), anxiety (mean = 2.8; 95% CI = 0.7 to 5.0; P = 0.012), and feeling of well-being (mean = 1.9; 95% CI = 0.2 to 3.6; P = 0.028).ConclusionSedentary behavior appears to be associated with better physical functioning but worse psychosocial functioning in cancer patients with brain metastases.