Effects of home-based exercise on exercise capacity, symptoms, and quality of life in patients with lung cancer: A meta-analysis

Purpose The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of home-based exercise on exercise capacity, cancer-related fatigue, insomnia, pain, appetite loss, coughing, anxiety, depression, and quality of life of patients with lung cancer. Methods We conducted a search using English and Chinese databases, namely PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, ProQuest, the Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Chinese Biomedical Literature (CBM), Wanfang Data, and China Science and Technology Journal Database (VIP) up to December 4, 2018. We selected randomized controlled trials and quasi-experimental trials that compared the effects of home-based exercise and routine guidance on exercise capacity, cancer-related fatigue, insomnia, pain, appetite loss, coughing, anxiety, depression, and quality of life of patients with lung cancer. The effect size was calculated using mean difference and 95% confidence interval, data were analyzed using the Stata version 12.0 software. Results We retrieved seven randomized controlled trials and seven quasi-experimental trials involving 694 patients in total. Home-based exercise significantly improved exercise capacity, reduced cancer-related fatigue, insomnia, anxiety, and depression, and improved quality of life (P < .05). However, it did not significantly reduce pain, appetite loss, and coughing symptoms (P > .05). Conclusions Home-based exercise is a beneficial approach to improving exercise capacity, some symptoms, and quality of life of patients with lung cancer. Home-based exercise should be routinely recommended by health professionals when patients with lung cancer are discharged from hospital.