Assessing mobility in primary brain tumor patients: A descriptive feasibility study using two established mobility tests

Background: Patients with primary brain tumors (PBT) face significant mobility issues related to their disease and/or treatment. Here, the authors describe the preliminary utility and feasibility of two established mobility measures, the Timed-Up-and-Go (TUG) and Five-Times Sit-to-Stand (TSS) tests, in quickly and objectively assessing the mobility status of PBT patients at a single institution's neuro-oncology clinic.

Methods: Adult patients undergoing routine PBT care completed the TUG/TSS tests and MD Anderson Symptom Inventory-Brain Tumor module (MDASI-BT), which assessed symptom burden and interference with daily life, during clinic visits over a 6-month period. Research staff assessed feasibility metrics, including test completion times/rates, and collected demographic, clinical, and treatment data. Mann-Whitney tests, Kruskal-Wallis tests, and Spearman's rho correlations were used to interrogate relationships between TUG/TSS test completion times and patient characteristics.

Results: The study cohort included 66 PBT patients, 59% male, with a median age of 47 years (range: 20-77). TUG/TSS tests were completed by 62 (94%) patients. Older patients (P < .001) and those who were newly diagnosed (P = .024), on corticosteroids (P = .025), or had poor (≤80) KPS (P < .01) took longer to complete the TUG/TSS tests. Worse activity-related (work, activity, and walking) interference was associated with longer TUG/TSS test completion times (P < .001).

Conclusions: The TUG/TSS tests are feasible for use among PBT patients and may aid in clinical care. Older age, being newly diagnosed, using corticosteroids, poor (≤80) KPS, and high activity-related interference were associated with significant mobility impairment, highlighting the tests' potential clinical utility. Future investigations are warranted to longitudinally explore feasibility and utility in other practice and disease settings.