Effects of Yoga on Cancer-Related Fatigue, Psychological Distress, and Quality of Life Among Patients With Cancer Undergoing Chemotherapy and/or Radiotherapy: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis


Author: Xing Ma1, Si Ni Li, Dorothy Ngo Sheung Chan

Affiliation: <sup>1</sup> Author Affiliation: The Nethersole School of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China.
Conference/Journal: Cancer Nurs
Date published: 2023 Nov 27
Other:
  Special Notes: doi: 10.1097/NCC.0000000000001293.   ,  Word Count: 250  
    Background:

Yoga can be considered supportive therapy for patients with cancer to alleviate cancer-related symptoms. However, there has been no meta-analysis examining yoga's effects among patients with cancer undergoing chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy.



Objective:

To synthesize the evidence regarding the effects of yoga on improving cancer-related fatigue, psychological distress, and quality of life among patients with cancer undergoing chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy.



Methods:

Ten English databases and 2 Chinese databases were searched from inception to December 2022. Two independent reviewers screened studies and extracted the data. Randomized controlled trials examining the effects of yoga on cancer-related fatigue, psychological distress, and quality of life were included. Meta-analysis was conducted, and narrative synthesis was performed when meta-analysis was not applicable.



Results:

Fourteen studies from 16 articles were included. The results showed that yoga reduced cancer-related fatigue (standardized mean difference [SMD], -0.75; 95% confidence interval [CI], -1.12 to -0.38; P < .001), anxiety (SMD, -0.91; 95% CI, -1.68 to -0.14; P = .02), but not depression (SMD, -0.82; 95% CI, -1.67 to 0.04; P = .06). The effects of yoga on distress and quality of life were inconclusive.



Conclusions:

Yoga significantly helped reduce cancer-related fatigue and anxiety but did not reduce depression among patients with cancer undergoing chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. Further rigorous studies are needed to identify the optimal characteristics of yoga for these patients.



Implications for practice:

It is possible to recommend yoga to patients with cancer undergoing chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy for managing cancer-related fatigue and anxiety after duly considering patients' physical conditions and ensuring appropriate instructions are given.





PMID: 38011074 DOI: 10.1097/NCC.0000000000001293