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Effect of medical Qigong on cognitive function, quality of life, and a biomarker of inflammation in cancer patients: a randomized controlled trial

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Abstract

Purpose

Cancer patients often experience diminished cognitive function (CF) and quality of life (QOL) due to the side effects of treatment and the disease symptoms. This study evaluates the effects of medical Qigong (MQ; combination of gentle exercise and meditation) on CF, QOL, and inflammation in cancer patients.

Methods

Eighty-one cancer patients recruited between October 2007 and May 2008 were randomly assigned to two groups: a control group (n = 44) who received the usual health care and an intervention group (n = 37) who participated in a 10-week MQ program. Self-reported CF was measured by the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC-CF) and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy—Cognitive (FACT-Cog). The Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy—General (FACT-G) was used to measure QOL. C-reactive protein (CRP) was assessed as a biomarker of inflammation.

Results

The MQ group self-reported significantly improved CF (mean difference (MD) = 7.78, t 51 = −2.532, p = 0.014) in the EORTC-CF and all the FACT-Cog subscales [perceived cognitive impairment (MD = 4.70, t 43 = −2.254, p = 0.029), impact of perceived cognitive impairment on QOL (MD = 1.64, t 45 = −2.377, p = 0.024), and perceived cognitive abilities (MD = 3.61, t 45 = −2.229, p = 0.031)] compared to controls. The MQ group also reported significantly improved QOL (MD = 12.66, t 45 = −5.715, p < 0.001) and had reduced CRP levels (MD = −0.72, t 45 = 2.092, p = 0.042) compared to controls.

Conclusions

Results suggest that MQ benefits cancer patients’ self-reported CF, QOL, and inflammation. A larger randomized controlled trial including an objective assessment of CF is planned.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the University of Sydney Cancer Research Fund. The authors would like to thank the support provided for the study by the medical oncologists of Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Concord Hospital and Royal North Shore Hospital. The authors wish to acknowledge the contribution of the biostatistician, Prof. Judy Simpson, who provided statistical assistance and especially to thank the participants who made this study possible.

Conflict of interest

All authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital & Concord Repatriation General Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia

    Byeongsang Oh, Stephen J. Clarke, Philip J. Beale & Janette Vardy

  2. Centre for Medical Psychology and Evidence-based Decisionmaking (CeMPED), School of Psychology, University of Sydney, Brennan/McCallum Building (A18), Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia

    Byeongsang Oh, Phyllis N. Butow, Barbara A. Mullan & Janette Vardy

  3. Department of Medical Oncology, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, 2065, NSW, Australia

    Byeongsang Oh, Stephen J. Clarke, Philip J. Beale & Nick Pavlakis

  4. Brain Disease Research Center, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, 461-24, Jeonmin-dong, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 305-811, South Korea

    Myeong Soo Lee

  5. Dana–Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, 44 Binney Street, #G133, Boston, MA, 02115, USA

    David S. Rosenthal

  6. Scottsdale Healthcare Chair of Biobehavioral Oncology Research, College of Nursing and Health Innovation, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA

    Linda Larkey

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  1. Byeongsang Oh
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Correspondence to Byeongsang Oh.

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Oh, B., Butow, P.N., Mullan, B.A. et al. Effect of medical Qigong on cognitive function, quality of life, and a biomarker of inflammation in cancer patients: a randomized controlled trial. Support Care Cancer 20, 1235–1242 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-011-1209-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-011-1209-6

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