Descriptive Study on the Relationship between Dyspnea, Physical Performance, and Functionality in Oncology Patients

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Palliative Care
• Clinical Medicine

Background:

• Dyspnea significantly impacts cancer patient quality of life, causing distress.
• Understanding factors influencing dyspnea is crucial for effective patient management.
• This study investigates dyspnea in relation to patient demographics and disease characteristics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the relationship between dyspnea and sociodemographic/clinical factors in cancer patients.
• To identify key predictors of dyspnea severity and its impact on functionality.
• To inform strategies for improving care and quality of life for cancer patients experiencing dyspnea.

Main Methods:

• Observational, cross-sectional study of cancer patients at University Hospital of Salamanca (March 2021-April 2024).
• Sociodemographic and clinical data collected via interviews and medical records.
• Validated scales (Barthel Index, mMRC, ECOG, SPPB) assessed functionality and dyspnea.

Main Results:

• Higher age, advanced disease stage, and more treatment lines correlated with worse functional status and increased dyspnea.
• Lung cancer was predominant (60.2%), with most patients in stage 3 (65.7%) and receiving three treatment lines (68.7%).
• No significant correlations found between gender or specific cancer diagnosis and the studied variables.

Conclusions:

• Advanced age, higher disease stage, and multiple treatment lines are associated with decreased functionality and increased dyspnea.
• Interventions targeting dyspnea are essential for enhancing quality of life and physical performance in cancer patients.
• Future research should examine treatment types and nutritional status in relation to dyspnea.