A randomized controlled bicenter trial of yoga for patients with colorectal cancer

Abstract Objective The aim of this trial was to evaluate the effects of yoga on health‐related quality of life in patients with colorectal cancer. Methods Patients with non‐metastatic colorectal cancer were randomly assigned to a 10‐week yoga intervention (90 min once weekly) or a waitlist control group. Primary outcome measure was disease‐specific quality of life (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy – Colorectal [FACT‐C]) at week 10. Secondary outcome measures included FACT‐C subscales: spiritual well‐being (FACT – Spirituality); fatigue (FACT – Fatigue); sleep disturbances (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Inventory); depression and anxiety (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale); body awareness (Scale of Body Connection); and body‐efficacy expectations (Body‐Efficacy Expectations Scale). Outcomes were assessed at week 10 and week 22 after randomization. Results Fifty‐four patients (mean age 68.3 ± 9.7 years) were randomized to yoga ( n = 27; attrition rate 22.2%) and control group ( n = 27; attrition rate 18.5%). Patients in the yoga group attended a mean of 5.3 ± 4.0 yoga classes. No significant group differences for the FACT‐C total score were found. Group differences were found for emotional well‐being at week 22 (∆ = 1.59; 95% CI = 0.27,2.90; p = 0.019), sleep disturbances at week 22 (∆ = −1.08; 95% CI = −2.13, −0.03; p = 0.043), anxiety at week 10 (∆ = −1.14; 95% CI = −2.20, −0.09; p = 0.043), and depression at week 10 (∆ = −1.34; 95% CI = −2.61, −0.8; p = 0.038). No serious adverse events occurred in the yoga group, while liver metastases were diagnosed in one patient in the control group. Conclusion This randomized trial found no effects of yoga on health‐related quality of life in patients with colorectal cancer. Given the high attrition rate and low intervention adherence, no definite conclusions can be drawn from this trial. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.