Effects of live-remote exercise on quality of life and other health-related outcomes in cancer survivors: a randomised controlled trial.

PURPOSE: Exercise following cancer treatment has been shown to improve health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and other important health outcomes, yet barriers to participation prevent many cancer survivors from exercising according to recommendations. Live-remote exercise methods could improve accessibility; however, evidence on their efficacy is limited. The EX-MED Cancer Sweden randomised controlled trial compared the effects of a 12-week live-remote online exercise intervention to usual care in adult cancer survivors.

METHODS

Two hundred adults who had completed curative treatment for breast, prostate, or colorectal cancer were randomised to a 12-week live-remote online exercise intervention or a usual care control group. Intervention effects on the primary outcome overall HRQoL (EORTC-QLQ-C30) and secondary outcomes cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), muscle strength, physical function, body composition, and other patient-reported outcomes were determined by comparing changes from baseline to 3 (primary timepoint) and 6 months between groups.

RESULTS

No significant effect was observed on overall HRQoL. However, live-remote exercise resulted in significant improvements at 3 months on the physical functioning domain of HRQoL (p ≤ 0.001), five-times sit-to-stand (p = 0.003), and moderate-vigorous physical activity levels (p ≤ 0.001) as well as estimated VO2 max (p = 0.045), and upper body strength (p = 0.010) at 3 and 6 months. No significant differences were observed between the groups on lower body strength, handgrip strength, fatigue, or the other functional domains or symptoms of the EORTC-QLQ-C30.

CONCLUSIONS

A 12-week live-remote exercise intervention did not lead to improvements in overall HRQoL; however, it did result in significant benefits in physical function, CRF, and upper body strength in adults treated for breast, prostate, or colorectal cancer. These findings add to the limited evidence on the effects of virtually supervised exercise for cancer survivors.

IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: EX-MED Cancer Sweden addresses common exercise barriers for cancer survivors while providing the benefits of supervised exercise.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT05064670, Trial registered on October 1, 2021, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05064670.