{
    "abstract": "Breast cancer treatment has improved significantly, contributing to a 5-year relative survival rate of 99% for localized cases. However, post-treatment survivors are reported to have significantly poor cardiovascular fitness which affects their health-related quality of life (HRQoL). In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), evidence for practice addressing post-treatment concerns is scarce.\nTo analyse the changes in cardiorespiratory fitness and HRQoL domains for breast cancer survivors in the UAE using a 2-month physical rehabilitation program.\nDESIGN: Parallel-group, randomized controlled trial PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: The study included breast cancer survivors who were treated with chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy, aged 18-65 years, and able to provide informed consent. Participants were recruited by referral from Al Tawam Hospital, a national referral center for oncology, and Dubai Hospital.\nThe intervention group (IG) received a 2-month supervised physical rehabilitation program focusing on aerobic training with 2 supervised sessions and 3 at-home sessions per week. The sessions were held at Thumbay Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Hospital. The control group (CG) received standard care at their treatment facility. Randomization for subject allocation was double-blinded (conducted by a third party not involved in the research).\nThe changes in cardiorespiratory fitness were assessed by measuring peak oxygen uptake (VO\nA total of 62 breast cancer survivors were randomly allocated to the intervention group (n\u2009=\u200931) and the control group (n\u2009=\u200931). Data from all participants who completed the 5-month trial was analyzed. The intervention group showed a significant improvement from baseline to follow-up in terms of cardiorespiratory fitness: VO\nThe intervention group showed significant improvement in cardiorespiratory fitness and multiple domains of HRQoL among breast cancer survivors in the UAE, which were sustained at 3 months.\nClinical Trials.gov NCT06013527. Registered on 28 August 2023.",
    "authors": [
        {
            "affiliation": "College of Health Sciences, Gulf Medical University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates.",
            "firstname": "Fatima Abdul",
            "initials": "FA",
            "lastname": "Rashid"
        },
        {
            "affiliation": "College of Health Sciences, Gulf Medical University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates.",
            "firstname": "Wajiha",
            "initials": "W",
            "lastname": "Anwar"
        },
        {
            "affiliation": "College of Health Sciences, Gulf Medical University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates. dean.coahs@gmu.ac.ae.",
            "firstname": "Praveen Kumar",
            "initials": "PK",
            "lastname": "Kandakurti"
        },
        {
            "affiliation": "Al Tawam Hospital, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.",
            "firstname": "Khaled H A",
            "initials": "KHA",
            "lastname": "Al Qawasmeh"
        },
        {
            "affiliation": "Dubai Hospital, Dubai Health, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.",
            "firstname": "Muhammad Farooq",
            "initials": "MF",
            "lastname": "Latif"
        },
        {
            "affiliation": "Dubai Hospital, Dubai Health, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.",
            "firstname": "Syed Hammad",
            "initials": "SH",
            "lastname": "Tirmazy"
        },
        {
            "affiliation": "Dubai Hospital, Dubai Health, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.",
            "firstname": "Mohamed",
            "initials": "M",
            "lastname": "Omara"
        },
        {
            "affiliation": "College of Health Sciences, Gulf Medical University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates. dr.animesh@gmu.ac.ae.",
            "firstname": "Animesh",
            "initials": "A",
            "lastname": "Hazari"
        }
    ],
    "conclusions": null,
    "copyrights": "\u00a9 2025. The Author(s).",
    "doi": "10.1186/s12885-025-14005-2",
    "journal": "BMC cancer",
    "keywords": [
        "Breast Cancer survivors",
        "Cardiorespiratory fitness",
        "Quality of life",
        "Rehabilitation",
        "United Arab Emirates"
    ],
    "methods": null,
    "publication_date": "2025-04-17",
    "pubmed_id": "40241061\n31761807\n38572751\n36608306\n33560186\n34537007\n23538987\n38355489\n36269525\n30119087\n35278203\n33046106\n25834616\n32960338\n24569944\n37444490\n34055157\n38926526\n37733263\n22641322\n20346624\n20878646\n31028212\n38242596\n1917218\n31928717\n36436330\n37819656\n38835046\n30340503\n20052559\n31214598\n36568235\n38875025\n34348178\n34563628\n36618335\n26694581\n37005952\n38551752\n31626055\n23041586\n38791989\n26515383\n26543382\n38449575\n34604026",
    "results": "A total of 62 breast cancer survivors were randomly allocated to the intervention group (n\u2009=\u200931) and the control group (n\u2009=\u200931). Data from all participants who completed the 5-month trial was analyzed. The intervention group showed a significant improvement from baseline to follow-up in terms of cardiorespiratory fitness: VO",
    "title": "Physical rehabilitation program for cardiorespiratory health and quality of life among breast cancer survivors in UAE: a randomized control trial.",
    "xml": "<Element 'PubmedArticle' at 0x788506f5bba0>"
}