Moderators of exercise effects on cancer-related fatigue: A meta-analysis of individual patient data
Authors/Creators
- Jonna K. van Vulpen
- Maike G. Sweegers
- Petra H. M. Peeters
- Kerry S. Courneya
- Robert U. Newton, Edith Cowan UniversityFollow
- Neil K. Aaronson
- Paul B. Jacobsen
- Daniel A. Galvao, Edith Cowan UniversityFollow
- Mai J. Chinapaw
- Karen Steindorf
- Melinda L. Irwin
- Martijn M. Stuiver
- Sandi Haynes
- Kathleen A. Griffith
- Isle Mesters
- Hans Knoop
- Martine M. Goedendorp
- Nanette Mutrie
- Amanda J. Daley
- Alex McConnachie
- Martin Bohus
- Lene Thorsen
- Karl-Heinz Schulz
- Camille E. Short
- Erica L. James
- Ronald C. Plotnikoff
- Martina E. Schmidt
- Cornelia M. Ulrich
- Marc van Beurden
- Hester S. Oldenburg
- Gabe S. Sonke
- Wim H. van Harten
- Kathryn H. Schmitz
- Kerri M. Winters-Stone
- Miranda J. Velthuis
- Dennis R. Taaffe, Edith Cowan UniversityFollow
- Willem van Mechelen
- Marie José Kersten
- Frans Nollet
- Jennifer Wenzel
- Joachim Wiskemann
- Irma M. Verdonck-De Leeuw
- Johannes Brug
- Anne M. May
- Laurien M. Buffart
Abstract
Purpose : Fatigue is a common and potentially disabling symptom in patients with cancer. It can often be effectively reduced by exercise. Yet, effects of exercise interventions might differ across subgroups. We conducted a meta-analysis using individual patient data of randomized controlled trials (RCT) to investigate moderators of exercise intervention effects on cancer-related fatigue. Methods: We used individual patient data from 31 exercise RCT worldwide, representing 4366 patients, of whom 3846 had complete fatigue data. We performed a one-step individual patient data meta-analysis, using linear mixed-effect models to analyze the effects of exercise interventions on fatigue (z score) and to identify demographic, clinical, intervention- and exercise-related moderators. Models were adjusted for baseline fatigue and included a random intercept on study level to account for clustering of patients within studies. We identified potential moderators by testing their interaction with group allocation, using a likelihood ratio test. Results: Exercise interventions had statistically significant beneficial effects on fatigue (β = −0.17; 95% confidence interval [CI], −0.22 to −0.12). There was no evidence of moderation by demographic or clinical characteristics. Supervised exercise interventions had significantly larger effects on fatigue than unsupervised exercise interventions (βdifference = −0.18; 95% CI −0.28 to −0.08). Supervised interventions with a duration ≤ 12 wk showed larger effects on fatigue (β = −0.29; 95% CI, −0.39 to −0.20) than supervised interventions with a longer duration. Conclusions: In this individual patient data meta-analysis, we found statistically significant beneficial effects of exercise interventions on fatigue, irrespective of demographic and clinical characteristics. These findings support a role for exercise, preferably supervised exercise interventions, in clinical practice. Reasons for differential effects in duration require further exploration.
Keywords
exercise, fatigue, cancer, individual patient data meta-analysis
Document Type
Journal Article
Date of Publication
1-1-2020
Publication Title
Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise
Publisher
American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)
School
Exercise Medicine Research Institute / School of Medical and Health Sciences
RAS ID
30226
Copyright
subscription content
Comments
van Vulpen, J. K., Sweegers, M. G., Peeters, P. H. M., Courneya, K. S., Newton, R. U., Aaronson, N. K., ... & Buffart, L. M. (2020). Moderators of exercise effects on cancer-related fatigue: A meta-analysis of individual patient data. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 52(2), 303-314. https://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0000000000002154