An evaluation of cognitive status, pain, functional status, respiratory muscle strength, and endurance in lung cancer patients

Serious side effects occurs with disease and treatments in survival after lung cancer. For this reason, functional capacity, cognitive status, pain perception and pulmonary functions may be affected in lung cancer. The purpose of this study was to evaluate respiratory function, respiratory muscle strength and endurance, functional capacity, pain, cognitive status level, and physical activity in lung cancer patients and compare with the findings of healthy subjects. Thirty individuals with lung cancer diagnoses and age and sex-matched healthy subjects were included in the study. Subjects' physical and demographic characteristics were recorded. Pulmonary function testing (PFT), mouth pressure measurement (MIP- maximal inspiratory pressure and MEP- maximal expiratory pressure), respiratory muscle endurance test, six minute walk test (6MWT) and pain threshold and tolerance test were used. In addition to physiological measurements, the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scale was used to evaluate cognitive status, The Mc Gill Pain Questionnaire was used to evaluate pain status, and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) was used to determine the level of physical activity. The results showed that PFT, MIP, MEP and %MIP, respiratory muscle endurance, 6MWT distance, pain threshold and tolerance values of biceps, triceps, trapezius, quadriceps muscles of lung cancer patients were significantly lower than healthy subjects (p<0,05). There was no found statistically significant difference in MEP (%) and pain threshold and tolerance values of gastrocnemius muscles between lung cancer patients and healthy subjects (p>0,05). There was found statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of Mc Gill Pain Questionnaire and IPAQ scores (p<0,05). There was no found statistically significant difference in terms of MoCA scores (p>0,05), but there was a statistically significant difference in terms of MoCA cognitive status levels according to classification (p<0,05). The results showed that pulmonary function, respiratory muscle strength and endurance, functional capacity, physical activity and cognitive status are significantly affected in lung cancer patients in comparison with healthy subjects'. Lung cancer patients have higher pain sensitivity than healthy subjects. A wide variety of long-term effects of lung cancer indicate that lung cancer patients need to be evaluated extensively in a comprehensive manner for planning physiotherapy and rehabilitation programs. Key Words: Lung neoplasms, pain, respiratory muscles, exercise test, physical activity