Effects of light-intensity physical activity on health-related outcomes in cancer survivors: A systematic review

Abstract

Aim

Nurse-led lifestyle education may be particularly effective for promoting light-intensity physical activity (LPA), which is often included as part of patients' daily activity. We aimed to conduct a comprehensive review of associations between LPA and health-related outcomes among cancer survivors and clarify the effects of LPA.

Methods

We searched four databases to identify relevant studies that involved participants aged ≥18 years, classified physical activity based on intensity, and measured LPA during the whole day by accelerometers or questionnaires. The quality of the included studies was assessed using quality assessment tools specific to LPA studies. The results were synthesized narratively.

Results

We extracted 34 relevant studies. Eleven studies focused on multiple cancers, eleven on breast cancer, five on colorectal cancer, three on lung cancer, and one each on head and neck cancer, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, prostate cancer, gynecological cancer, and colorectal and gastric cancer. Six studies reported that LPA was effective for improving fatigue. Although LPA also showed favorable associations with physical function and mortality, the number of studies was insufficient (four studies each). No association was found between LPA and adiposity (n = 5). Results for the associations between LPA and quality of life (QOL) (n = 12), depression (n = 4), and cognitive function (n = 3) were conflicting.

Conclusion

This review confirmed that LPA is effective in improving several health-related outcomes. However, the results are integrated across cancer types, and further studies should investigate each outcome for each cancer type to clarify the effect of LPA.