BACKGROUND: This study investigated whether a supervised exercise programme improves quality of life (QoL), fatigue and cardiorespiratory fitness in patients in the first year after oesophagectomy. METHODS: The multicentre PERFECT trial randomly assigned patients to an exercise intervention (EX) or usual care (UC) group. EX patients participated in a 12-week moderate- to high-intensity aerobic and resistance exercise programme supervised by a physiotherapist. Primary (global QoL, QoL summary score) and secondary (QoL subscales, fatigue and cardiorespiratory fitness) outcomes were assessed at baseline, 12 and 24 weeks and analysed as between-group differences using either linear mixed effects models or ANCOVA. RESULTS: A total of 120 patients (mean (SD) age 64 (8) years) were included and randomized to EX (61 patients) or UC (59 patients). Patients in the EX group participated in 96% (IQR 92 to 100%) of the exercise sessions and the relative exercise dose intensity was high (92%). At 12 weeks, beneficial EX effects were found for QoL summary score (3.5, 95% CI 0.2 to 6.8) and QoL role functioning (9.4, 95% CI 1.3 to 17.5). Global QoL was not statistically significant different between groups (3.0, 95% CI -2.2 to 8.2). Physical fatigue was lower in the EX group (-1.2, 95% CI -2.6 to 0.1), albeit not significantly. There was statistically significant improvement in cardiorespiratory fitness following EX compared with UC (peak oxygen uptake (1.8 ml/min/kg, 95% CI 0.6 to 3.0)). After 24 weeks, all EX effects were attenuated. CONCLUSIONS: A supervised exercise programme improved cardiorespiratory fitness and aspects of QoL. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Dutch Trial Register NTR5045 (www.trialregister.nl/trial/4942).

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