The trajectory of cancer-related fatigue throughout lung cancer treatment and its association with physical activity

<bold>Background</bold> Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is a common, debilitating symptom in non-small cell lung cancer patients. We aimed to investigate the impact of different treatments on CRF and the role of physical activity (PA) during treatment. <bold>Methods</bold> This observational study assessed fatigue at diagnosis and 12 weeks after start of treatment via the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI-20). ΔMFI-20 was compared across different treatments. Patients were categorized by PA levels during treatment (1 week accelerometery, during hospitalization and/or mid-treatment)(average step count <3000, 3000-5000,>5000 steps/day). <bold>Results</bold> A total of 62 patients (66±8y, 66% male) were included. Fatigue significantly increased more in those receiving surgery and (neo-)adjuvant therapy (n=12) vs. surgery alone (n=29)(ΔMFI-20: 16±17 vs 0.3±13, p<0.05). The increase of fatigue in non-surgical patients (n=21) was not statistically different from those receiving surgery (ΔMFI-20: 6±19, p=0.41). PA during treatment was 3695±2288 steps/day. Patients engaging in higher PA during treatment (>5000 steps/day) tended to have lower increases in fatigue compared to those with lower PA (<3000 steps/day), p=0.06 (Fig.1). <bold>Conclusions</bold> Fatigue increased most in patients receiving surgery and (neo-)adjuvant therapy. PA during treatment was very low and tended to attenuate fatigue increases. <fig><object-id>erj;66/suppl_69/PA524/F1</object-id><object-id>F1</object-id><object-id>F1</object-id><graphic></graphic></fig>