Physical functioning and physical activity after gastrointestinal or bladder oncological surgery: An observational...

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Physical Therapy

Background:

• Postoperative recovery of physical functioning and activity levels is crucial for patients undergoing oncological surgery.
• Limited data exists on the trajectory of physical functioning and physical activity up to 3 months after gastrointestinal or bladder cancer surgery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the recovery of physical functioning and objective physical activity levels up to 3 months post-oncological surgery.
• To determine the association between physical activity levels and the recovery of physical functioning.

Main Methods:

• Longitudinal observational cohort study including 68 patients undergoing gastrointestinal or bladder oncological surgery.
• Physical functioning assessed preoperatively and at 1 and 3 months post-discharge.
• Physical activity objectively measured using accelerometers during hospitalization and at 1 and 3 months post-discharge.

Main Results:

• 49% of patients did not recover physical functioning by 3 months post-surgery.
• Median daily active minutes increased from 13 during hospitalization to 159 at 3 months post-discharge.
• Higher physical activity at 1 month post-discharge correlated with better physical functioning up to 3 months post-discharge.

Conclusions:

• Physical functioning is significantly impaired in a substantial proportion of patients at 3 months after oncological surgery.
• Evaluating both physical activity and functioning post-surgery is essential for personalized postoperative mobility care.