Factors affecting functional capacity in patients diagnosed with cancer cachexia

Objective: Determining the factors affecting the functional capacity in patients diagnosed with cancer cachexia and determining the main determinants of functional capacity. Materials and Methods: The study included patients who were diagnosed with 31 (18+ age) cancer cachexia. Demographic information were recorded by the researcher. The hand grip strength, proximal, respiratory muscle strength, physical activity, physical performance, fatigue and quality of life of the patients were measured by hand dynamometer, hand-held dynamometer by the Maximum Expiratory Pressure (MEP) and Maximum Inspiratory Pressure (MIP) measurements, International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form (IPAQ), Short Physical Performance Test Battery (SPPB), Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI) and EORTC-QLQ-C30, respectively. Functional capacities were tested with 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT). Results: Between functional capacity and right grip strength (r:0.37, p:0.045), right shoulder flexion strength (r:0.39, p:0.033) medium-positive; performance status (r:0.77, p<0.001), right knee extension strength (r:0.58, p:0.001), expiratory muscle strength (r:0.71, p<0.001), activity level (r:0.70, p<0.001), physical performance level (r:0.70, p<0.001), and quality of life ( r:0.74, p<0.001) positive and fatigue level (r:-0.81, p<0.001) a very strong-negative correlation was found. According to linear regression analysis, expiratory muscle strength, level of fatigue experienced in daily living activities and global quality of life were determined as the determinants of 6MWD with 81.1% variance. Conclusion: Decrease in fatigue levels experienced in daily life activity, increase in respiratory muscle strength and general quality of life can improve functional capacity.