Impact of lung cancer diagnosis on patient lifestyle and physical activity

A Lung Cancer diagnosis can significantly influence a patient's lifestyle, yet there is limited research on these changes among Spanish populations. This study aimed to analyze the differences in lifestyle habits, physical activity (PA) levels, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and adherence to the 2018 World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research (WCRF/AICR) recommendations among lung cancer patients in Castilla-La Mancha, prior to and after their diagnosis.

This multi-center, descriptive, retrospective, cross-sectional, and observational study included 53 lung cancer patients from three hospitals in Castilla-La Mancha. Participants completed questionnaires assessing their PA, dietary intake, smoking habits, and HRQoL, recalling their habits from one year prior to diagnosis and their current habits.

Post-diagnosis, patients showed a significant decrease in cigarette consumption (p < 0.001). However, there were also significant declines in fruit and vegetable intake (p = 0.049), dietary fiber (p = 0.024), and overall HRQoL across multiple domains, including mobility, self-care, usual activities, and pain/discomfort (p < 0.05). PA levels decreased, though not significantly. Overall, adherence to the WCRF/AICR recommendations did not improve.

A lung cancer diagnosis is a powerful motivator for smoking cessation but is also associated with a decline in other healthy lifestyle habits and HRQoL. These findings highlight a critical need for targeted interventions at the time of diagnosis to support patients in maintaining healthy diets and physical activity levels, which are crucial for improving long-term outcomes.