Randomized controlled trial investigating the effect of a Baduanjin exercise plus nutrition programme on cancer-related fatigue in elderly lung cancer patients receiving chemotherapy

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the benefits of the Baduanjin exercise and nutrition intervention on Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) in elderly lung cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. METHODS: 96 elderly patients suffering from lung cancer and undergoing chemotherapy were enlisted and randomly assigned to the control group, the exercise group, and the exercise plus nutrition group. Primary and secondary endpoints were assessed at baseline, week 6, and week 12, including Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI) scores, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scores, grip strength, and gait speed. RESULTS: Significant beneficial intervention effects were found for CRF, sleep quality, grip strength, and gait speed in the exercise plus nutrition group at 6 and 12 weeks after the treatment. The exercise group improved CRF, grip strength, and gait speed at 12 weeks. No beneficial effects on the outcomes were noticed in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Baduanjin exercise may help alleviate CRF in elderly lung cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Moreover, when combined with nutrition intervention, it appears to enhance their sleep quality and physical function more substantially than Baduanjin alone.