Moderators of exercise effects on self-reported cognitive functioning in cancer survivors an individual participant data meta-analysis

Purpose: This individual participant data meta-analysis (IPD-MA) assesses exercise effects on self-reported cognitive functioning (CF) and investigates whether effects differ by patient-, intervention-, and exercise-related characteristics. 

Methods: IPD from 16 exercise RCTs, including 1987 patients across multiple types of non-metastatic cancer, was pooled. A one-stage IPD-MA using linear mixed-effect models was performed to assess exercise effects on self-reported CF (z-score) and to identify whether the effect was moderated by sociodemographic, clinical, intervention- and exercise-related characteristics, or fatigue, depression, anxiety, and self-reported CF levels at start of the intervention (i.e., baseline). Models were adjusted for baseline CF and included a random intercept at study level to account for clustering of patients within studies. A sensitivity analysis was performed in patients who reported cognitive problems at baseline. 

Results: Minimal significant beneficial exercise effects on self-reported CF (β=−0.09 [−0.16; −0.02]) were observed, with slightly larger effects when the intervention was delivered post-treatment (n=745, β=−0.13 [−0.24; −0.02]), and no significant effect during cancer treatment (n=1,162, β=−0.08 [−0.18; 0.02]). Larger effects were observed in interventions of 12 weeks or shorter (β=−0.14 [−0.25; −0.04]) or 24 weeks or longer (β=−0.18 [−0.32; −0.02]), whereas no effects were observed in interventions of 12–24 weeks (β=0.01 [−0.13; 0.15]). Exercise interventions were most beneficial when provided to patients without anxiety symptoms (β=−0.10 [−0.19; −0.02]) or after completion of treatment in patients with cognitive problems (β=−0.19 [−0.31; −0.06]). No other significant moderators were identified. 

Conclusions: This cross-cancer IPD meta-analysis observed small beneficial exercise effects on self-reported CF when the intervention was delivered post-treatment, especially in patients who reported cognitive problems at baseline. 

Implications for Cancer Survivors: This study provides some evidence to support the prescription of exercise to improve cognitive functioning. Sufficiently powered trials are warranted to make more definitive recommendations and include these in the exercise guidelines for cancer survivors.