Differences in physical function across cancer recovery phases: Findings from the 2015 National Health Interview Survey.
Ickpyo Hong, Kimberly Hreha, Maria Chang Swartz and 3 others
PMID 33879954WHAT IT FOUND
Recent cancer survivors reported significantly more difficulty with high-level tasks like standing for two hours, walking a quarter-mile, and working than those two or more years post-diagnosis.
Basic daily activities like eating and bathing showed no difference. Screening should prioritize mobility and work capacity early in recovery.
Key findings
01Recent survivors had higher odds of overall functional limitations, inability to work, and taking pain medications compared to long-term survivors.
02Recent survivors reported more difficulty with specific mobility and social tasks, including standing for two hours, walking a quarter-mile, going out to events, and participating in social activities.
03There were no statistically significant differences between recent and long-term survivors in basic activities of daily living, such as eating, bathing, or personal care.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The study is cross-sectional, so it cannot prove that time since diagnosis caused the differences in function. The survey items were not standardized for research, which may introduce measurement error. Pain medication use was tracked only for general acetaminophen, not narcotics, potentially underestimating pain's impact. Fatigue data was limited because only four participants reported it, so it could not be controlled for in the analysis. Cognitive and emotional outcomes showed no difference, but this may be due to the unstandardized measures used rather than a true lack of deficit.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest. The data source, the National Health Interview Survey, is sponsored by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Centers for Health Statistics.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume recent survivors are dependent in basic self-care. The study found no significant difference in basic ADLs like eating or bathing between recent and long-term survivors. The impairments were specific to higher-level functions like work, community mobility, and endurance tasks.