Evaluation of the functional capacity and quality of life of children and adolescents during and after cancer treatment

Objective: To evaluate the functional capacity and quality of life of children and adolescents during cancer treatment and post-treatment. Methods: Cross-sectional study of patients during cancer treatment and post-treatment, assessed by the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) and the Pediatric Quality of Life TM questionnaire (cancer module). Results: Sixty-five patients, aged 11.2 +/- 3.5 years, mostly males (50.8%) and white (90.8%), with high incidence of hematological cancers (81.5%) participated in the study. The performance in the 6MWT was 23.1% inferior comparing the mean predicted and achieved (584.3 +/- 5 and 447.7 +/- 78.6 m, respectively). The percentage difference between the predicted and achieved 6MWT, and the different phases of cancer treatment were significantly different between patients in treatment (73.7 +/- 12.8) and post-treatment (84.5 +/- 9.1). When grouped by the different diagnoses, it was possible to observe that the distance covered by the patients with leukemia showed results closer to that predicted (80.7 +/- 11.7). Regarding the health-related quality of life questionnaire (HRQL), the child's perception (78.0 +/- 14.56) was better than that reported by their parents (72.4 +/- 17.74). However, when we compared HRQL with the 6MWT, there was no association between them (p=0.597). Conclusions: Children and adolescents undergoing cancer treatment or post-treatment showed a 23% deficit in functional capacity. In relation to HRQL results, children's perception was higher than that of their parents.

Automated summary

The study revealed a 23% deficit in functional capacity in children and adolescents undergoing cancer treatment or post-treatment. In terms of health-related quality of life, children had a higher perception compared to their parents.