ESTABLISHMENT OF THE IMPORTANCE OF AND MEANINGFUL CHANGE IN PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN PATIENTS WITH CANCER CACHEXIA; A DHT-MEASURABLE CONCEPT
Author(s)
Leila G. Lackey1, Joshua Coulter, MA1, Laura Taraboanta, MA, MBA1, Abigail Newell, PhD2, Joseph C. Cappelleri, MPH, MS, PhD1, Soohyun Hwang, PhD, MPH3, Martine Maculaitis, MA, PhD3, Carrie Northcott, PhD1.
1Pfizer, New York, NY, USA, 2Cancer Support Community, Washington, DC, USA, 3Oracle Life Sciences, Austin, TX, USA.
1Pfizer, New York, NY, USA, 2Cancer Support Community, Washington, DC, USA, 3Oracle Life Sciences, Austin, TX, USA.
OBJECTIVES: Evaluate and compare how patients with cancer cachexia view the importance of and meaningful changes in a physical activity concept (walking distance) measurable by a digital health technology (DHT).
METHODS: Patients with cancer cachexia (N=176) completed direct rating questions (5-points: not at all, somewhat, moderately, very, and extremely) to assess the importance of several physical activities and meaningfulness of changes in several physical activities. Walking distance was included in both importance and meaningfulness questions. The percentages of participants rating each walking distance at least very important and each change in walking distance at least very meaningful were compared.
RESULTS: More participants rated walking a short distance (around a city block or a quarter mile) important than rated walking a long distance (several city blocks or a mile) important (65% vs 51%, respectively; p-value=0.005). Similarly, more participants rated gaining the ability to walk a short distance after being unable to go walking outside meaningful than rated gaining the ability to walk a long distance after only being able to walk a short distance meaningful (85% vs 72%, respectively; p-value=0.002). At both distances, more patients rated gaining the ability to walk that distance meaningful than rated the distance important (short: 85% vs 65%, p-value<0.001; long: 72% vs 51%, p-value<0.001). This relationship was consistent across subgroups by tumor type, cancer stage, and performance status.
CONCLUSIONS: Patients with cancer cachexia were more likely to rate a lower-volume version of a physical activity (walking a short distance) important compared to a higher-volume version of the same activity. In addition, gaining the ability to perform the physical activity (walking) at all was more likely to be rated meaningful than increasing the volume (walking further). These findings of diminishing marginal returns can inform development of DHT-derived measures and understanding of meaningful changes in associated endpoints.
METHODS: Patients with cancer cachexia (N=176) completed direct rating questions (5-points: not at all, somewhat, moderately, very, and extremely) to assess the importance of several physical activities and meaningfulness of changes in several physical activities. Walking distance was included in both importance and meaningfulness questions. The percentages of participants rating each walking distance at least very important and each change in walking distance at least very meaningful were compared.
RESULTS: More participants rated walking a short distance (around a city block or a quarter mile) important than rated walking a long distance (several city blocks or a mile) important (65% vs 51%, respectively; p-value=0.005). Similarly, more participants rated gaining the ability to walk a short distance after being unable to go walking outside meaningful than rated gaining the ability to walk a long distance after only being able to walk a short distance meaningful (85% vs 72%, respectively; p-value=0.002). At both distances, more patients rated gaining the ability to walk that distance meaningful than rated the distance important (short: 85% vs 65%, p-value<0.001; long: 72% vs 51%, p-value<0.001). This relationship was consistent across subgroups by tumor type, cancer stage, and performance status.
CONCLUSIONS: Patients with cancer cachexia were more likely to rate a lower-volume version of a physical activity (walking a short distance) important compared to a higher-volume version of the same activity. In addition, gaining the ability to perform the physical activity (walking) at all was more likely to be rated meaningful than increasing the volume (walking further). These findings of diminishing marginal returns can inform development of DHT-derived measures and understanding of meaningful changes in associated endpoints.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-11, ISPOR Europe 2026, Vienna, Austria
Value in Health, Volume 29, Issue 12S
Code
PCR130
Topic
Clinical Outcomes, Medical Technologies, Patient-Centered Research
Disease
Diabetes/Endocrine/Metabolic Disorders (including obesity), Oncology