Short-term pre-operative high-intensity interval training does not improve fitness of colorectal cancer patients

Boereboom, Catherine L.; Blackwell, James E.M.; Williams, John P.; Phillips, Bethan E.; Lund, Jonathan N.

Abstract

Background: Preoperative cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) in colorectal cancer patients has been shown to affect postoperative outcomes. The aim of this study was to test the feasibility of high-intensity interval training (HIT) for improving fitness in preoperative colorectal cancer (CRC) patients within the 31-day cancer waiting time targets imposed in the UK.

Methods: Eighteen CRC patients (13 males, mean age: 67 years (range 52-77years) participated in supervised HIT on cycle ergometers 3 or 4 times each week prior to surgery. Exercise intensity during 5x1-minute HIT intervals (interspersed with 90-seconds recovery) was 100-120% maximum wattage achieved at a baseline cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET). CPET before and after HIT was used to assess CRF.

Results: Patients completed a mean of 8 HIT sessions (range 6-14) over 19 days (SD 7). There was no significant increase in VO2 peak (23.9±7.0 vs. 24.2±7.8 ml/kg/min (mean±SD), p=0.58) or anaerobic threshold (AT: 14.0±3.4 vs. 14.5±4.5 ml/kg/min, p=0.50) after HIT. There was a significant reduction in resting systolic blood pressure (152±19 vs. 142±19 mmHg, p=0.0005) and heart rate at submaximal intensities after HIT.

Conclusions: A pragmatic HIT exercise program did not improve the preoperative fitness of CRC patients within the 31-day window available in the UK to meet cancer surgical waiting time targets.

Citation

Boereboom, C. L., Blackwell, J. E., Williams, J. P., Phillips, B. E., & Lund, J. N. (2019). Short-term pre-operative high-intensity interval training does not improve fitness of colorectal cancer patients. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports, 29(9), 1383-1391. https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.13460

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Apr 25, 2019
• Online Publication Date: May 22, 2019
• Publication Date: 2019-09
• Deposit Date: May 22, 2019
• Publicly Available Date: May 23, 2020
• Journal: Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports
• Print ISSN: 0905-7188
• Electronic ISSN: 1600-0838
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 29
• Issue: 9
• Pages: 1383-1391
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.13460
• Keywords: Colorectal neoplasms; Exercise; Preoperative therapy; Surgery
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/2078765
• Publisher URL: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/sms.13460
• Contract Date: May 22, 2019