Marmol-Perez, Andres (A);Gracia-Marco, Luis (L);Clavero-Jimeno, Antonio (A);Amaro-Gahete, Francisco J (FJ);Ruiz, Jonatan R (JR);Carneiro-Barrera, Almudena (A);

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Ann Phys Rehabil Med.2025 Apr 18;68(5):101954.doi:10.1016/j.rehab.2025.101954

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Due to the lack of available knowledge in the current literature, this systematic review and meta-analysis was aimed to assess the effectiveness of exercise-based lifestyle interventions, including healthy diet and/or psychological well-being on mental, physical and global health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in adults after cancer treatment.

METHODS: MEDLINE (via PubMed) and Web of Science databases were searched for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) published until August 2024 evaluating exercise-based lifestyle interventions, including healthy diet and/or psychological well-being, which assessed mental, physical and global HRQoL.

RESULTS: Of 6193 screened studies, 32 RCTs met the criteria. The total sample comprised 5528 participants (3003 intervention and 2525 control). There was a small effect size in a pooled analysis that found exercise-based lifestyle interventions improve mental HRQoL (d 0.11, 95 % CI 0.05 to 0.18). These effects were greater in those studies that combined exercise with psychological well-being (d = 0.19, P = 0.004), and with moderate-to-high intensity aerobic exercise (moderate intensity; d = 0.11, P = 0.02, high intensity; d = 0.16, P = 0.02, aerobic exercise; d = 0.16, P = 0.26).

CONCLUSIONS: Exercise-based lifestyle interventions do not enhance physical nor global HRQoL, yet those combined with psychological well-being seem to improve mental HRQoL in individuals after cancer treatment.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42022369169.