Trial Information

Association Between Respiratory Muscle Performance and Functional Capacity in Patients With Primary Stage IIIb & IV Lung Cancer

Background and Purpose: Respiratory muscle function is important in sustaining the levels of
physical activity required for daily life. The purpose of our study is to investigate the
association between respiratory muscle performance, functional capacity, dyspnea,
anxiety/depression symptom, 1-year respiratory morbidity rate, and 1-year mortality in
patients with primary stage IIIb and IV lung cancer.

Methods: A total of 120 patients with newly diagnosed primary stage IIIb and IV lung cancer
will be recruited from the National Taiwan University Hospital. Demographic and clinical
signs/syndromes will be obtained from the chart. Pain and dyspnea will be measured using
visual analog scale. Respiratory muscle strength will be tested by measuring maximal
inspiratory and expiratory pressure (PImax and PEmax, respectively). Spirometric variables,
forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) will be
measured. Functional capacity will be measured using Karnofsky performance status and
Simmonds functional assessment. Anxiety/depression symptom will be measured using Hospital
Anxiety and Depression Scale. One year respiratory complication morbidity and 1-year
mortality will be recorded in prospective nature. Spearman's and Pearson correlation
coefficient will be used to test the relationship between respiratory muscle performance and
multiple variables. Univariate and stepwise multiple regression analyses will be used to
identify factors associated with respiratory muscle performance, functional capacity,
one-year respiratory morbidity and one-year mortality rate in patients with primary stage
IIIb and IV lung cancer.

Clinical relevance: The prevalence of lung cancer is increasing in the recent years. The
attempt to understand the relations between respiratory muscle performance, functional
capacity and associated clinical courses will shed light on whether chest physical therapy
intervention will be beneficial for patients with primary IIIb and IV lung cancer.