Aerobic physical activity reduces depression among adults with cancer
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Key takeaways:
- Aerobic physical activity reduced self-reported depression scores for patients with cancer.
- Researchers observed significant reductions 1 month and up to 1 year after conclusion of therapy.
Aerobic physical activity can reduce short- and long-term depression scores among adults with cancer, according to results of a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Results showed statistically significant improvement in self-reported depression 1 month — and as long as 6 to 12 months — after completion of an aerobic physical activity intervention compared with usual care or no intervention.
“Aerobic physical activity — such as walking, running or cycling — should be considered an adjunctive treatment for managing depression [among] patients with cancer who can tolerate it,” Sapna Oberoi, MBBS, MD, DM, assistant professor in the department of pediatrics and child health at University of Manitoba, told Healio. “Given its demonstrated benefits not only in reducing depressive symptoms but also in alleviating cancer-related fatigue, enhancing cognitive function and improving overall health-related quality of life, aerobic physical activity represents a holistic, nonpharmacological approach that can be easily integrated into cancer care.”
Background and methods
Between 13% and 27% of individuals with cancer have depression, according to study background. That rate is up to three times higher than the general population.
Depression can lead to extended hospital stays, increased physical and emotional distress, suicide risk, poorer quality of life, poor adherence to treatment and increased mortality.
ASCO has recommended multiple interventions — including cognitive behavioral therapy, antidepressants and structured physical activity — to reduce the prevalence and impact of depression among people with cancer.
Prior research demonstrated aerobic physical activity could reduce depression in the general population.
Oberoi and colleagues searched six databases to identify randomized clinical trials conducted between Jan. 1, 1980, and July 5, 2023, that compared aerobic physical activity with three other approaches — usual care, waitlist control or attention control — to assess for managing depression among people with cancer regardless of cancer type or age.
Their analysis included 25 trials with a combined 1,931 participants (age range, 18-80 years), about half (52%) of whom were assigned to intervention groups and 48% of whom were assigned to control groups.
Self-reported depression 1 month (short-term) after the intervention served as the primary endpoint. Self-reported depression 1 to 6 months (medium-term) and 6 to 12 months (long-term) after aerobic physical activity served as secondary endpoints.
Results and next steps
Adults assigned an aerobic physical activity intervention had reduced short-term depression scores (standardized mean difference [SMD] = –0.38; 95% CI, –0.59 to –0.18) and long-term depression scores (SMD = –0.32; 95% CI, –0.6 to –0.04) compared with those assigned to control groups.
Researchers did not observe statistically significant improvement in medium-term depression scores between the intervention and control groups (SMD = –0.27; 95% CI, –0.6-0.06).
Associations did not differ based on cancer or treatment type.
“The results of our study are encouraging, suggesting that patients with cancer may similarly benefit from incorporating regular physical activity into their care plans,” Oberoi said. “This finding highlights the potential for nonpharmacological interventions — such as exercise — to complement traditional treatments for depression among patients with cancer, offering an accessible and effective means of improving their psychological well-being.”
The researchers acknowledged study limitations, including lack of data on other factors — such as family history or treatment-associated adverse events — that could affect depression, as well as antidepressant use at trial enrollment. They also noted a high quantity of breast cancer trials in the analysis.
“Future research should focus on comparing the efficacy of aerobic physical activity with other established interventions for depression, exploring how it can complement these treatments for patients with cancer, [and] how aerobic activity can be implemented for the patients with cancer who spend most of their time in the hospital,” Oberoi said. “It is also essential to prioritize research in understudied populations, such as children with cancer and patients with metastatic disease, to fully understand the potential benefits of aerobic physical activity for managing depression in these groups.”
For more information:
Sapna Oberoi, MBBS, MD, DM, can be reached at soberoi@cancercare.mb.ca.
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