The association between physical activity levels and quality of life in elderly lung cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy in China: a cross-sectional study

Objective This study aimed to investigate the association between physical activity (PA) levels and quality of life (QOL) in elderly lung cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy in China. Methods Two hundred eight elderly lung cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy were recruited by convenient sampling at two tertiary A hospitals in Guangxi from October 2023 to March 2024. The evaluation of PA Levels by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form (IPAQ-SF) was conducted, and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Lung (FACT-L) was utilized to measure the QOL. Multiple linear regression was used to identify factors correlated with QOL. Results Out of 208 elderly patients with lung cancer who were undergoing chemotherapy, 119 (57.20%) had low-level PA, 79 (38.00%) had moderate-level PA, and 10 (4.80%) had high-level PA. The mean score of FACT-L was 95.41 +/- 15.01, and FACT-L was correlated with age, residency, education level, and per capita monthly household income (P < 0.05). Moderate to high PA levels explained 19.4% of the variation in QOL among elderly patients undergoing chemotherapy for lung cancer. Conclusion Elderly lung cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy exhibited lower levels of PA. The increase in PA levels was associated with better QOL. Treatment options for elderly lung cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy may involve PA plans to boost their QOL. It is vital to evaluate the patient's physical condition and functional level when creating these plans to ensure safety and effectiveness, thereby increasing patient engagement and maximizing enhancements in their QOL.