Physical Rehabilitation Program for Cardiorespiratory Health and Quality of Life Among Breast Cancer Survivors in UAE.

NCT06013527 | Completed DMC

• 1 other identifier: IRB-COHS-STD-95-May-2023
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 62
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 2

Brief Summary

This randomized control trial aims to analyze the changes in cardiovascular endurance and quality of life domains for breast cancer survivors in the United Arab Emirates using a long-term 2-month physical rehabilitation program adapted from the BREX protocol.

Conditions

Breast Cancer

Keywords

Breast cancer survivor; Quality of life; Cardiorespiratory health; Physical rehabilitation

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Cardiorespiratory health

  A 2-km walk test (UKK walk test, Tampere, Finland) would be done along to evaluate the submaximal Vo2 analysis additionally peak exercise minute ventilation, and direct maximal voluntary ventilation will be assessed to evaluate pulmonary limitation to exercise. This be measured through Spirometry.

  0-5 months

• Quality of Research

  The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30).

  0-5 months

Study Arms (2)

Physical Therapy Intervention

EXPERIMENTAL

The intervention group will receive a structured exercise program which will run for 2 months and a follow-up will be done after 3 months.

Other: Supervised Training; Other: Individually tailored home program

Control Group

NO INTERVENTION

This group will continue with their routine life and will receive standard care given by the hospital.

Interventions

Supervised Training OTHER

Two different classes over alternate weeks twice per week : 1. 60-minute step aerobics class (Given week 1,3,5,7) 2. 60 minutes circuit training class (Given week 2,4,6,8) Each class will include warm-up and cool-down periods both lasting 10-15 min. The exercise period of 30 minutes the maximum target RPE would be set at 14-16 on a 20-point BORG scale, a level of exercise that feels "somewhat hard" or "hard" and coincides with about 86-92% of maximal heart rate, 76-85% of maximal VO 2 and 5-7 metabolic equivalents (METs) ideal for improving the related domains of QoL and Cardiovascular endurance (12). During the first 3 weeks, the participants would exercise at a lower level of RPE (approximately 11-13), to adapt to the training and so that newly recruited participants could also join the group without difficulty.

Physical Therapy Intervention

Individually tailored home program OTHER

The type of home training would mainly consist of endurance training such as walking, Nordic walking, or aerobic training, but it would also include jumps and leaps like step aerobics to promote bone health. The Participants will be asked to perform these thrice per week.

Physical Therapy Intervention

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 65 Years
• Sex: female
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Patients suffering from breast cancer who have undergone Chemotherapy, Mastectomy, and cleared for post-surgical physical rehabilitation.
• Age group -18 years to 65 years
• Female patients only (gender predisposition)
• Diagnosed with stage I-stage IIIa breast cancer. (As other stages of cancer include metastasis).

You may not qualify if:

• Patients diagnosed with prior cardiorespiratory disorders, cognitive dysfunction, and other health problems that would prevent safe participation.
• Active breast cancer patients.
• Participants who engaged in physical activity like the intervention group in any form.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Gulf Medical University: lead

Study Sites (2)

Thumbay Medical City

Al Jurf, Ajman Emirate, United Arab Emirates

Location

Al Tawam

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Location

Related Publications (2)

• Rashid FA, Anwar W, Kandakurti PK, Al Qawasmeh KHA, Latif MF, Tirmazy SH, Omara M, Hazari A. Physical rehabilitation program for cardiorespiratory health and quality of life among breast cancer survivors in UAE: a randomized control trial. BMC Cancer. 2025 Apr 16;25(1):705. doi: 10.1186/s12885-025-14005-2.

  PMID: 40241061 BACKGROUND

• Rashid FA, Anwar W, Kandakurti PK, Hazari A. Physical rehabilitation program for cardiorespiratory health and quality of life among breast cancer survivors in UAE: protocol for a randomized control trial. Trials. 2024 Jun 4;25(1):354. doi: 10.1186/s13063-024-08192-9.

  PMID: 38835046 DERIVED

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Breast Neoplasms

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Neoplasms by Site; Neoplasms; Breast Diseases; Skin Diseases; Skin and Connective Tissue Diseases

Study Officials

• Fatima Abdul Rashid

  Gulf Medical University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: SUPPORTIVE CARE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Ms.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: August 22, 2023
• First Posted: August 28, 2023
• Study Start: July 1, 2023
• Primary Completion: August 1, 2024
• Study Completion: October 1, 2024
• Last Updated: August 24, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-08

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Shared Documents: STUDY PROTOCOL, SAP

Locations

AE (2)