Health benefits of yoga for cancer survivors: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effects of yoga on health-related outcomes [i.e., physical function, mental health, and overall quality of life (QOL)] of cancer survivors via a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) over the past 5 years across cancer types.

Methods: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. RCTs published from January 1, 2018, to February 23, 2023, were searched in five English databases (PubMed, The Cochrane Library, ISI, PsycINFO, and CINAHL), three Chinese databases (Wan Fang, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Chinese Biomedical Literature Database), and three English clinical trials registry platforms (International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, ClinicalTrials.gov, and EU Clinical Trials Register).

Results: A total of 34 RCTs were included in this updated review. Yoga benefited the physical function, mental health, and overall QOL of cancer survivors. The effect size of yoga for most physical and mental health-related outcomes was relatively small, but that for the QOL was generally large. The impact of yoga on the QOL of cancer survivors ranged from moderate to high.

Conclusions: Yoga has health benefits for cancer survivors and could therefore be used as an optional supportive intervention for cancer-related symptom management.

Keywords: Cancer survivors; Health-related outcomes; Meta-analysis; Symptom management; Systematic review; Yoga.

Fig. 1

Flow diagram of study selection. PRISMA, Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses; RCT, randomized controlled trial.

Fig. 2

(a) Risk of bias graph. (b) Risk of bias summary.

Fig. 2

(a) Risk of bias graph. (b) Risk of bias summary.

Fig. 3

(a) Mean changes of pain from baseline to 12 weeks after intervention; (b) Mean changes of pain from baseline to 12 weeks after intervention by sensitivity analysis.

Fig. 4

(a) Sleep at 4 weeks after intervention; (b) Mean changes of sleep from baseline to 8 weeks after intervention; (c) Mean changes of sleep from baseline to 12 weeks after intervention.

Fig. 5

(a) Fatigue at 4 weeks after intervention; (b) Mean changes of fatigue from baseline to 8 weeks after intervention; (c) Fatigue at 10 weeks after intervention.

Fig. 6

(a) Mean changes of 6MWT from baseline to 12 weeks after intervention.

Fig. 7

(a) Anxiety at 8 weeks after intervention; (b) Mean changes of anxiety from baseline to 12 weeks after intervention.

Fig. 8

(a) Depression at 8 weeks after intervention; (b) Depression at 10 weeks after intervention; (c) Mean changes of depression from baseline to 12 weeks after intervention.

Fig. 9

(a) QOL at 8 weeks after intervention; (b) Mean changes of global health subdomain of EORTC QLQ-C30 from baseline to 12 weeks after intervention; (c) Mean changes of functional subdomain of EORTC QLQ-C30 from baseline to 12 weeks after intervention; (d) Mean changes of symptom subdomain of EORTC QLQ-C30 from baseline to 12 weeks after intervention.