Impact of age on the recovery of six-minute walking distance after lung cancer surgery: a retrospective cohort study

Abstract

Purpose The aim was to investigate the relationship of age for recovery of six-minute walking distance (6MWD), pulmonary function, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) after lung cancer surgery. Methods Primary outcome was the 6MWD recovery until 6\xa0months after surgery. Secondary outcome was the recoveries of forced expiratory volume in 1\xa0s (FEV 1 ) and HRQOL until 6\xa0months after surgery. Linear mixed-effects model was used to estimate the association of age to the outcomes. Results A total of 311 lung cancer patients were included. All the 6MWD, FEV 1 , and HRQOL decreased after surgery (−\xa032\xa0m, −\xa00.39L, and −\xa02 scores, respectively, p \u2009=\u20090.027— p \u2009<\u20090.001). While 6MWD increased every month after surgery (5\xa0m/month, 95% confidence interval (CI); 4–7, p \u2009<\u20090.001), the recovery decreased, as the age increased 1 standard deviation (SD) (i.e., 9\xa0years) (−\xa02\xa0m/month; 95% CI −\xa03 to −\xa01, p \u2009<\u20090.001). While FEV 1 increased every month after surgery (0.03\xa0L/month; 95% CI 0.02–0.03, p \u2009<\u20090.001), the recovery increased, as the age increased by 1 SD (0.01 L/month; 95% CI 0.00–0.01, p \u2009=\u20090.003), which was opposite to the 6MWD recovery. While the postoperative HRQOL recovered every month (2 score/month; 95% CI 1–2, p \u2009<\u20090.001), there was no significant association between the recovery and age (0 score/month; 95% CI −\xa01 to 0, p \u2009=\u20090.5). Conclusions The 6MWD recovery delayed in elderly patients, which was not related to their FEV 1 -and HRQOL recoveries. Postoperative walking training would be important for the elderly lung cancer patients.