Cancer survivors maintain health benefits 6 to 12 months after exercise-based rehabilitation: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: To determine if the effects of exercise-based cancer rehabilitation on physical functioning, activity (including physical activity) and participation (including quality of life) are maintained at 6 to 12 months.

Methods: Electronic databases CINAHL, Embase, MEDLINE, PsycINFO and PubMed were searched from the earliest available time to August 2021. Randomised controlled trials examining the long-term effects (≥ 6 months post-intervention) of exercise-based rehabilitation were eligible for inclusion. Outcome data (e.g. fitness, physical activity, walking capacity, fatigue, depression, quality of life) were extracted and the methodological quality assessed using PEDro. Meta-analyses using standardised mean differences were used to synthesise data and Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development and Evaluation criteria were applied.

Results: Nineteen randomised controlled trials including 2974 participants were included. Participants who underwent exercise-based rehabilitation had improved physical activity (SMD 0.30, 95% CI 0.09 to 0.51, I = 0%), cardiorespiratory fitness (SMD 2.00 ml/kg/min, 95% CI 0.56 to 3.45, I = 0%), walking capacity (SMD 0.62, 95% CI 0.33 to 0.92, I = 0%), depression (SMD 0.71, 95% 0.05 to 1.37, I = 90%), quality of life (physical functioning component SMD 0.56, 95% CI 0.11 to 1.01, I = 62%) and sleep (MD 0.69 points, 95% 0.46 to 0.92, I = 0%) at 6 to 12 months follow-up. There was no data available on cancer-related mortality or recurrence.

Conclusion: Health outcomes of cancer survivors after exercise-based rehabilitation can be maintained after rehabilitation completion.

Implications For Cancer Survivors: Cancer survivors can maintain health benefits achieved through exercise-based rehabilitation.