Abstract
BACKGROUND: Breast cancer has the highest incidence among women. Exercise interventions are increasingly recognized as key strategies to prevent and alleviate chemotherapy side effects. Pre-exercise health-related physical fitness (HRPF) assessments are critical forensuring safety. However, investigations on HRPF during chemotherapy and its influencing factors remain limited. PURPOSE: To evaluate HRPF status and its influencing factors in breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, informing tailored exercise rehabilitation programs. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 230 hospitalized breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy in a tertiary hospital in Tongling, China. Data included a general information questionnaire, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF), and standardized physical measurements across five HRPF dimensions. RESULTS: Descriptive analysis indicated that HRPF levels were suboptimal among participants. Regression analysis identified significant predictors of HRPF, including age, physical activity level, sedentary time, hemoglobin level, menopausal status, breast cancer subtypes and chemotherapy regimen (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The level of HRPF among breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy remains suboptimal. Healthcare professionals should develop individualized exercise rehabilitation programs based on each patient's HRPF status and implement early assessment and intervention strategies targeting modifiable factors to enhance HRPF outcomes.