Effects of supervised exercise on cancer-related fatigue in breast cancer survivors: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is the most common and distressing symptom in breast cancer survivors. Approximately 40% to 80% of cancer patients undergoing active treatment suffer from CRF. Exercise improves overall quality of life and CRF; however, the specific effects of the training modalities are...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:BMC cancer 2015-02, Vol.15 (1), p.77-77, Article 77
Main Authors: Meneses-Echávez, José Francisco, González-Jiménez, Emilio, Ramírez-Vélez, Robinson
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Analysis
Breast cancer
Breast Neoplasms - complications
Breast Neoplasms - rehabilitation
Cancer
Care and treatment
Complications and side effects
Exercise therapy
Exercise Therapy - methods
Fatigue
Fatigue - etiology
Fatigue - rehabilitation
Female
Health aspects
Humans
Oncology, Experimental
Quality of Life
Risk factors
Survivors
Weight training
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is the most common and distressing symptom in breast cancer survivors. Approximately 40% to 80% of cancer patients undergoing active treatment suffer from CRF. Exercise improves overall quality of life and CRF; however, the specific effects of the training modalities are not well understood. This study aimed to determine the pooled effects of supervised exercise interventions on CRF in breast cancer survivors. We searched PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, CENTRAL and CINAHL databases between December 2013 and January 2014 without language restrictions. Risk of bias and methodological quality were evaluated using the PEDro score. Pooled effects were calculated with a random-effects model according to the DerSimonian and Laird method. Heterogeneity was evaluated with the I (2) test. Nine high-quality studies (n = 1156) were finally included. Supervised aerobic exercise was statistically more effective than conventional care in improving CRF among breast cancer survivors (SMD = -0.51, 95%CI -0.81 to -0.21), with high statistical heterogeneity (P = 0.001; I (2)  = 75%). Similar effects were found for resistance training on CRF (SMD = -0.41, 95%CI -0.76 to -0.05; P = 0.02; I(2) = 64%). Meta-regression analysis revealed that exercise volume parameters are closely related with the effect estimates on CRF. Egger's test suggested moderate evidence of publication bias (P = 0.04). Supervised exercise reduces CRF and must be implemented in breast cancer rehabilitation settings. High-volume exercises are safe and effective in improving CRF and overall quality of life in women with breast cancer. Further research is encouraged. CRD42014007223.
ISSN:1471-2407
1471-2407
DOI:10.1186/s12885-015-1069-4