Benefits On Cancer-related Fatigue In Children After Exercise Training: Results From The Randomized, Controlled Mucki-trial: 2900 Board #361 May 29 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM

PURPOSE: Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is recognized as one of the most distressing side effects in children suffering from cancer. In adult cancer patients, specific exercise training has revealed positive effects on muscular and aerobic capacity, which has been associated with benefits on CRF and health-related quality of life. However, in children with cancer, the evidence level of beneficial exercise programs is sparse. Within the “Effects of Combined Resistance and Endurance Training in Pediatric Cancer Patients During Intensive Treatment Phase (Mucki)-trial” training effects on CRF were evaluated. METHODS: In this randomized, controlled trial, childhood cancer patients aged between 4 and 18 years were enrolled during intensive cancer treatment phase. Individuals within the exercise group (EG) participated in supervised exercise training. Training was focused on child adapted playful, moderate intense resistance and endurance exercises and took place 3 to 5 times weekly over a period of 6 to 8 weeks. Individuals of the control group (CG) received usual care. Children’s pre- and post-interventional CRF levels were evaluated by the children themselves and separately by their parents using the ,,PedsQLTM 3.0 Multidimensional Fatigue Scale”. RESULTS: In total 14 patients were included in the EG (mean age 10.8 ± 4.2y) and 15 in the CG (mean age 11.5 ± 5.2y). Children in the EG reported less fatigue post- than pre-intervention (p = 0.026; d = 1.11). In the CG were no pre-post differences (p = 0.969). Group-time-interaction of children’s reported fatigue level was not significant (F(1,10) = 1.061; p = 0.327). Parents reported favoring effects for their children’s fatigue level in the EG in the group-time-interaction (F(1,13) = 8.353; p = 0.013; η2p = 0.391). CONCLUSIONS: The present results show benefits on CRF in the EG. It is known, that the majority of childhood cancer patients report to suffer from CRF. Mental, physical and social wellbeing might be affected by CRF. So far, there is no gold-standard treatment against CRF. Adapted exercise programs have been getting attention only since recently in pediatric cancer. The present findings support further elaboration and implementation of adapted exercise offers in pediatric oncology.