Effects of physical activity interventions on physical activity and health outcomes in young people during treatment for cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

OBJECTIVE: Physical activity may improve health and reduce the adverse effects of cancer and/or its treatment in young people, therefore, interventions that promote physical activity are important. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to synthesise evidence from randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that have assessed the effectiveness of physical activity interventions on health outcomes in young people undergoing cancer treatment. DESIGN: Systematic review with meta-analyses. DATA SOURCES: Embase, PubMed, Medline, PsycINFO, PsychArticles, SPORTDiscus, Scopus, Web of Science and The Cochrane Library were searched from inception to January 2022. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR SELECTING STUDIES: Studies were eligible for inclusion if they were RCTs, recruited young patients with cancer receiving cancer treatment and tested an aerobic physical activity intervention. Title/abstract reports were screened against the review eligibility criteria. RESULTS: Searches revealed seven eligible trials that had recruited 317 participants. No differences were found in minutes per day of participation in moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity (MD 2.61, 95% CI −3.67 to 8.89, p=0.42), total physical activity (standardised mean difference, SMD 0.35, 95% CI −0.39 to 1.09, p=0.35) or fatigue (SMD −0.50, 95% CI −1.03 to 0.02, p=0.06). Sensitivity analyses where trials with a high risk of bias were excluded, revealed significant effects for total physical activity (SMD 0.87, 95% CI 0.17 to 1.57, p=0.02) and fatigue (SMD 0.74, 95% CI −1.13 to −0.35), p=0.0002). CONCLUSION: Evidence regarding the effects of physical activity interventions on the health of young people undergoing treatment for cancer is limited and mixed, where results from high-quality trials showed some promise.