What question did this study set out to answer?

This investigation aimed to evaluate the effects of pulmonary rehabilitation combined with adjunctive TCM on postoperative outcomes in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

May 10, 2026Open Access

Efficacy of pulmonary rehabilitation combined with minimal-dose adjunctive TCM (Shen Yi Capsules and Hua Chan Su) in improving postoperative outcomes for non-small cell lung cancer: a randomized controlled trial

Key Points

This investigation aimed to evaluate the effects of pulmonary rehabilitation combined with adjunctive TCM on postoperative outcomes in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.
Conducted a randomized controlled trial with a 3-month structured pulmonary rehabilitation program.
Utilized assessments such as spirometry, the St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), and the six-minute walk test (6MWT).
Included minimal-dose Shen Yi Capsules and Hua Chan Su as adjunctive treatment.
Participants showed significant improvement in SGRQ scores (p = 0.001).
Average improvement in six-minute walk distance was 42.1 meters post-intervention.
Program adherence was favorable at 90%, despite reported barriers such as transportation and financial issues.

Abstract

Background Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a chronic respiratory disease that is characterized by progressive pulmonary fibrosis, impaired gas exchange, and reduced exercise tolerance. Objective The present investigation aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a systematically organized pulmonary rehabilitation regimen in improving functional capacity and health related quality of life of individuals affected by ILD. Method This study assessed the effects of a structured 3-month PR program conducted at Shanghai First Rehabilitation Hospital, China, using pre- and post-intervention assessments comprising spirometry, the St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), and the six-minute walk test (6MWT). This study assessed the effects of a structured 3-month pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) program conducted at Shanghai First Rehabilitation Hospital, China, using pre- and post-intervention assessments. These assessments included spirometry, the St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), and the 6-minute walk test (6MWT). Alongside the PR program, patients received minimal-dose adjunctive Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), specifically the administration of Shen Yi Capsules and Hua Chan Su, which were used to investigate their combined impact on improving postoperative outcomes for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Results Upon the completion of the pulmonary rehabilitation programme, participants showed significant improvements indicating by statistical significance of the decrease in St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) scores ( p = 0.001) and the average improvement of the six-minute walk distance by 42.1 m. Program adherence was favorable (90 %), although participants faced transportation, financial, and physical barriers, as well as poor patient awareness. Conclusion The results suggest that a customized PR program is both safe and effective in improving health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and exercise capacity in patients with ILD, underscoring the importance of developing strategies to mitigate barriers to accessing these programs and thereby maximizing benefit for patients.

AIに質問

Bookmark

View Full Paper