PURPOSE: To examine the effects of postoperative pulmonary telerehabilitation (PTR) in older adults with lung cancer using a popular mobile instant messenger. METHODS: We conducted a randomized controlled trial in ambulatory patients (n = 64; aged >= 65 years) with lung cancer scheduled for video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. Participants were randomly assigned to intervention (IG) or control (CG) groups. Four weeks after surgery, both groups received a one-time education session on standard home-based pulmonary rehabilitation at the rehabilitation center. The IG underwent a PTR program thrice weekly for 4 weeks using a mobile instant messenger or telephone. Both groups were instructed to maintain their exercise routine (at least 3 times a week) during the 4-week follow-up. RESULTS: Compared with the CG, the IG showed significant improvements in peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) and percent predicted VO2peak of 3.3 mL/kg/min (95% CI 1.9 to 4.8; p < 0.001) and 14% (95% CI 7 to 21; p < 0.001), respectively, after PTR. These improvements persisted at the 4-week follow-up (VO2peak 3.8 mL/kg/min: 95% CI 2.1 to 5.5; p < 0.001 and percent predicted VO2peak 13%: 95% CI 6 to 20; p < 0.001). Compared with preoperative values, postoperative VO2peak and percent predicted VO2peak decreased significantly by 3.5 mL/kg/min (95% CI 2.6 to 4.3; p < 0.001) and 15% (95% CI 11 to 19; p < 0.001), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: A 4-week postoperative PTR program improved VO2peak in older adults with lung cancer. Our findings suggest that PTR may be a feasible therapeutic strategy for lung cancer, even in older adults.
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