Exercise improves quality of life in patients with cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials
Abstract
Purpose: Exercise may be associated with increased health-related quality of life (QoL) in patients with cancer, but it is not prescribed as standard care during or after cancer treatment. We systematically reviewed the methodological quality of, and summarised the evidence from, randomised controlled trials (RCTs). A meta-analysis was performed to examine the effectiveness of exercise in improving the QoL in patients with cancer, during and after medical treatment. Methods: RCTs that met the PICO (Patient Intervention Control Outcome) format were included in this study. 16 RCTs were identified through a search of Embase, Medline (OvidSP) and the Cochrane Library. These trials were reviewed for substantive results and the methodological quality was assessed using the Delphi criteria list. Results: Exercise interventions differed widely in content, frequency, duration and intensity. Based on the meta-analysis, exercise improved QoL significantly in patients with cancer as compared to usual care (mean difference 5.55, 95% CI (3.19 to 7.90), p<0.001). Other outcomes closely related to QoL, such as fatigue and physical functioning, also improved. Conclusions: Exercise has a direct positive impact on QoL in patients with cancer, during and following medical intervention. Exercise is a clinically relevant treatment and should be an adjunct to disease therapy in oncology.
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Effect sizes of movement-based interventions for cancer patients are mostly small.
“Effect sizes, however, are mostly small [85–91].”
There is growing evidence that movement-based interventions for cancer patients (in terms of physical activity and exercise) are safe and feasible and improve quality of life.
“There is growing evidence that movement-based interventions for cancer patients (in terms of physical activity and exercise) are safe and feasible and improve quality of life.”
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- Authors
- Gerritsen, J. K. W., & Vincent, A. J. P. E.
- Affiliations
- Erasmus MC (NL)
- Corresponding author
- Vincent, Arnaud J P E
- Venue
- British Journal of Sports Medicine
- Publisher
- BMJ
- Published
- 2015-12-30
- Volume
- 50
- Issue
- 13
- Pages
- 796-803
- ISSN
- 0306-3674 (ISSN-L)
- 1473-0480
- OpenAlex
- W2225480285
- Cited by
- 246
- References
- 49
- Citations by year
- 2026: 12 · 2025: 31 · 2024: 27 · 2023: 25 · 2022: 31 · 2021: 29 · 2020: 27 · 2019: 28 · 2018: 13 · 2017: 15 · 2016: 7
- FWCI
- 1.25
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- British Journal of Sports Medicine (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- EUR Research Repository (Erasmus University Rotterdam) (submittedVersion)
- HighWire Press Open Archive (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer survivorship and care
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Childhood Cancer Survivors' Quality of Life
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Physical Activity and Health
- Keywords
- physical activity, cancer patients, health-related quality of life, fatigue, physical function, exercise intervention, cancer therapy, adjunctive therapy
- MeSH terms
- Exercise Therapy, Humans, Neoplasms, Quality of Life, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
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