Patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who participate in an exercise regimen before lung surgery may experience fewer postoperative complications and a reduced hospital stay, as well as other benefits, according to a Cochrane review involving 167 individuals. Among the findings:

• Patients who exercised reduced their risk of developing a postoperative lung complication by 67%, compared with those who did not exercise.
• Out of 100 people with NSCLC who exercised before lung surgery, 7 are estimated to experience a postoperative lung complication.
• 22/100 who do not exercise are estimated to experience such.
• People with NSCLC who exercised before lung surgery had a chest drain for 3 fewer days than those who did not exercise.
• They also stayed 3 fewer days in the hospital, walked 18 meters more in 6 minutes, and had better lung function.

The authors advised interpreting the results with caution due to disparities between studies analyzed, risk of bias, and small sample sizes.