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PHYSICAL ACTIVITY INTERVENTION IN ADULTS WITH LYMPHOMA UNDERGOING TREATMENT: FEASIBILITY AND NEXT STEPS

Abstract

Juliana V. Costa1, Shannon Mihalko1, Peter Brubaker, FACSM1, Alex Lucas2, James Gerosa1, Alex Marshall2, Greg Hundley2. 1Wake Forest University, Winston Salem, NC. 2Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA.

Background: Chronic treatment-related toxicities are prevalent among lymphoma survivors. Current research highlights the associations between anthracycline-based chemotherapy and cardiovascular complications. Physical activity has cardioprotective benefits that may reverse or prevent the decline of cardiovascular function among lymphoma patients during and after treatment. Purpose: The purpose of the Physical Activity and Lymphoma Study (PALS) is to determine the feasibility of conducting a tailored physical activity intervention for lymphoma patients receiving chemotherapy. Methods: Feasibility will be determined by accrual, adherence, and retention rates, as well as perceived barriers, adverse events, and program satisfaction. The PALS pilot study is in the process of recruiting 23 lymphoma patients, with 17 in the physical activity intervention group (PAI) and 6 in the healthy living intervention group (HLI). All participants will be recruited from the greater Piedmont Triad area in North Carolina. Participant accrual will be determined by examining the number of patients identified by referring physicians and who signed the informed consent. The PAI group’s adherence will be determined by dividing the number of sessions prescribed by the number attended, with the goal of two sessions per week. The HLI group will be assessed by their attendance to biweekly interactive sessions on psychosocial well-being and healthy lifestyle recommendations. Retention will be estimated by participant drop-out rates and reasons for withdrawal will be captured by semi-structured qualitative interviews. Adverse events will be documented and evaluated for their association with the intervention. Program evaluations will be completed by participants to assess barriers to exercise and testing, as well as program satisfaction. Anticipated results: It is hypothesized that the intervention will be tolerated by participants as demonstrated by retention rates, adherence to tailored exercise sessions, minimal adverse events, and overall program satisfaction. The feasibility of the PALS pilot study will provide insight for a subsequent larger clinical trial aimed at improving exercise capacity, cardiac and cognitive dysfunction, as well as health-related quality of life among lymphoma patients receiving chemotherapy.

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