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Effects of exercise interventions on social and cognitive functioning of men with prostate cancer: a meta-analysis

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Abstract

Purpose

Exercise is beneficial for prostate cancer patients’ physical functioning; however, effects on social and cognitive functioning are inconsistent. This meta-analysis of exercise interventions for prostate cancer patients had two aims: the primary aim was to evaluate the effects of exercise interventions on social functioning; the secondary aim was to consider additional outcomes of cognitive functioning as well as adverse events.

Methods

Electronic databases (Embase, MEDLINE, PubMed, PsycINFO, and the Chinese database Airti Library) were searched for relevant papers (1987–2019), which included hand searching. After careful inspection, 10 relevant randomized controlled trials were analyzed using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software; pooled means determined social and cognitive functioning.

Results

Meta-analysis of summary scores (fixed-effects model) showed an overall beneficial effect of exercise on social functioning (Hedges’ g = 0.35, 95% CI [0.193, 0.515], p < 0.001) and cognitive functioning (Hedges’ g = 0.35, 95% CI [0.123, 0.575], p < 0.01) in men with prostate cancer when compared to controls. Intervention durations of 12–16 and 24–48 weeks that provided supervised aerobic exercise combined with resistance exercise sessions had a small to medium effect on social functioning compared to controls. One exercise group experienced one serious, but non-fatal, adverse event due to a higher exercise intensity (50–75% VO2max).

Discussion and recommendations

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first meta-analysis to examine the effects of exercise interventions on cognitive functioning among prostate cancer patients. We suggest further research be conducted to confirm these findings.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Nursing, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Section 1, Jen-Ai Road, Taipei, 10051, Taiwan, Republic of China

    Yuan-Yuan Fang, Yun-Hsiang Lee, Piao-Yi Chiou & Xiao-Yin Chou

  2. Department of Nursing, Mackay Medical College, No. 46, Section 3, Zhongzheng Road, Sanzhi District, New Taipei City, 252, Taiwan, Republic of China

    Jui-Chun Chan & Chia-Tai Hung

  3. Department of Nursing, National Taiwan University Hospital, No.1, Changde St., Zhongzheng Dist., Taipei City, Taiwan, 10048, Republic of China

    Wen-Tzu Chiu

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Fang, YY., Lee, YH., Chan, JC. et al. Effects of exercise interventions on social and cognitive functioning of men with prostate cancer: a meta-analysis. Support Care Cancer 28, 2043–2057 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-019-05278-y

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