Universidad Europea continues to promote research that has a real impact on people’s health. A study on the impact of physical exercise on adolescents with cancer, in which the European University is participating, has been awarded first prize at the Fundación Cajastur National Sports Medicine Research Awards, organised by the University of Oviedo, which this year mark their 27th edition.
The study was coordinated by Rodrigo Yagüe Peñuelas (first author) and Elena Higes Núñez, PhD students at Universidad Europea de Madrid, with the participation of researchers affiliated with the institution, including senior lecturers Elena Santana Sosa and Lidia Brea Alejo, and Professor Alejandro Lucía, as part of a collaborative project involving four hospitals, two universities and a foundation.
The research, entitled “Effects of supervised physical exercise on cardiac function and functional capacity in adolescents with cancer during intensive treatment: a multicentre randomised clinical trial”, also involved professionals from the 12 de Octubre, La Paz, Gregorio Marañón and Niño Jesús hospitals, as well as from the Miguel de Cervantes European University and the Aladina Foundation.
The study is based on a significant clinical reality, as cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy, can cause adverse effects that affect patients’ independence and quality of life. In this context, the results show that supervised physical exercise during treatment is not only safe but also constitutes a viable intervention for improving cardiac function and functional capacity in adolescents.
To this end, a multicentre randomised clinical trial was conducted involving 104 adolescents aged between 12 and 19, who took part in an individualised, multi-component exercise programme comprising aerobic, strength and respiratory training during their intensive treatment.
This recognition highlights Universidad Europea commitment to applied research in the field of health and its contribution to the development of innovative solutions that improve patients’ quality of life, reinforcing its role as a leading institution in the biomedical field.