TY - JOUR
T1 - The effects of Tai Chi on quality of life of cancer survivors
T2 - a systematic review and meta-analysis
AU - Ni, Xiaosha
AU - Chan, Raymond Javan
AU - Yates, Patsy
AU - Hu, Wenyi
AU - Huang, Xianhong
AU - Lou, Yan
PY - 2019/10/1
Y1 - 2019/10/1
N2 - Purposes: To assess the effects of Tai Chi on quality of life (QOL) of cancer survivors. Methods: The following databases were searched: PubMed, Cochrane CENTRAL, EBSCO (including MEDLINE, CINAHL, and other databases), ScienceDirect, CNKI, Wangfang Data, and CQVIP until April 25, 2018. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published in English or Chinese examining the effects of Tai Chi intervention for cancer survivors were included. The primary outcome was QOL; the secondary outcomes were limb function/muscular strength, immune function indicators, cancer-related fatigue (CRF), and sleep disturbance. Methodological quality was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool. Results of RCTs were pooled with mean difference (MD) or standardized mean difference (SMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Quality of evidence for each outcome was assessed with the GRADE system. Results: Twenty-two RCTs were included in this review. Tai Chi improved the physical (SMD 0.34, 95%CI 0.09, 0.59) and mental health (SMD 0.60, 95%CI 0.12, 1.08) domains of quality of life. The intervention improved the limb/muscular function of breast cancer survivors (SMD 1.19, 95%CI 0.63, 1.75) and in mixed samples of cancer survivors reduced the levels of cortisol (MD − 0.09, 95%CI − 0.16, − 0.02), alleviated CRF (SMD − 0.37, 95%CI − 0.70, − 0.04), and promoted sleep (SMD − 0.37, 95%CI − 0.72, − 0.02). Conclusion: There is low-level evidence suggesting that Tai Chi improves physical and mental dimensions of QOL and sleep. There is moderate-level evidence suggesting Tai Chi reduces levels of cortisol and CRF and improves limb function. Additional studies with larger sample sizes and with higher-quality RCT designs comparing different regimens of Tai Chi are warranted.
AB - Purposes: To assess the effects of Tai Chi on quality of life (QOL) of cancer survivors. Methods: The following databases were searched: PubMed, Cochrane CENTRAL, EBSCO (including MEDLINE, CINAHL, and other databases), ScienceDirect, CNKI, Wangfang Data, and CQVIP until April 25, 2018. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published in English or Chinese examining the effects of Tai Chi intervention for cancer survivors were included. The primary outcome was QOL; the secondary outcomes were limb function/muscular strength, immune function indicators, cancer-related fatigue (CRF), and sleep disturbance. Methodological quality was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool. Results of RCTs were pooled with mean difference (MD) or standardized mean difference (SMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Quality of evidence for each outcome was assessed with the GRADE system. Results: Twenty-two RCTs were included in this review. Tai Chi improved the physical (SMD 0.34, 95%CI 0.09, 0.59) and mental health (SMD 0.60, 95%CI 0.12, 1.08) domains of quality of life. The intervention improved the limb/muscular function of breast cancer survivors (SMD 1.19, 95%CI 0.63, 1.75) and in mixed samples of cancer survivors reduced the levels of cortisol (MD − 0.09, 95%CI − 0.16, − 0.02), alleviated CRF (SMD − 0.37, 95%CI − 0.70, − 0.04), and promoted sleep (SMD − 0.37, 95%CI − 0.72, − 0.02). Conclusion: There is low-level evidence suggesting that Tai Chi improves physical and mental dimensions of QOL and sleep. There is moderate-level evidence suggesting Tai Chi reduces levels of cortisol and CRF and improves limb function. Additional studies with larger sample sizes and with higher-quality RCT designs comparing different regimens of Tai Chi are warranted.
KW - Cancer survivors
KW - Cancer-related fatigue
KW - Limb function
KW - Quality of life
KW - Sleep
KW - Tai Chi
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85068119408&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s00520-019-04911-0
DO - 10.1007/s00520-019-04911-0
M3 - Review article
C2 - 31236699
AN - SCOPUS:85068119408
VL - 27
SP - 3701
EP - 3716
JO - Supportive Care in Cancer
JF - Supportive Care in Cancer
SN - 0941-4355
IS - 10
ER -