Relação da atividade física com o prognóstico pós-cirúrgico em pacientes oncológicos com cancro de cabeça e pescoço com distress

Abstract

Introduction: Head and neck cancer (CCP) is among the most common cancers in the world. Surgical treatment is considered the only treatment with a curative purpose for most cancer situations. It is known that psychological disorders can have a strong influence in the face of a surgical procedure, resulting in complications that, in turn, influence mobility and post-surgical mortality. Increasing evidence suggests that physical activity may reduce the risk of post-surgical complications in cancer patients. Objective: To analyze the impact of physical activity on the risk of post-surgical complications, length of stay and hospitalization in cancer patients with head and neck cancer with distress. Material and Methods: Subjects of both sexes, with head and neck cancer, eligible for surgical treatment were recruited. We assessed the socio-demographic characteristics, the level of physical activity and the level of distress in the preoperative period through questionnaires. Distress was assessed by the Distress Thermometer and physical activity was assessed by the IPAQ - short version. To assess surgical complications, length of stay and mortality, the patients' clinical records were consulted. Results: The sample consisted of 67 patients, with an average age of 59.8 ± 11.1, 83.6% were male. 82% of the sample had distress. There was no association between distress and surgical complications, length of stay or mortality. Being physically active did not significantly change the post-surgical prognosis of patients with distress. Conclusion: Our data suggest that distress is very prevalent in cancer patients with CCP, however it was not associated with a worse prognosis, even in individuals with different levels of physical activity. Additional studies should be developed to better clarify the relationship between exercise and surgical complications, mortality and longer hospital stays in patients with distress.