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Effects of non-pharmacological supportive care for hot flushes in breast cancer: a meta-analysis

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Abstract

Purpose

To assess the efficacy of non-pharmacological therapies for hot flushes (HFs) in women with breast cancer (BC).

Methods

Nine databases (MEDLINE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, EMBASE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Chinese Scientific Journal Database (VIP), China Biology Medicine (CBM), and Wan Fang Database) were searched from their inceptions to October 2016. We also hand-searched reference lists of reviews and included articles, reviewed conference proceedings, and contacted experts. Finally, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were aggregated to evaluate the therapeutic effect of acupuncture for HFs in women with BC.

Results

Sixteen trials were included in the meta-analysis. Significant combined effects of non-pharmacological therapies were observed in reducing frequency and severity of HFs after treatment (d = −0.57, P < 0.001). These effects were sustained, albeit reduced in part, during follow-up (d = −0.36, P < 0.001), with the exception of frequency (P = 0.41). Meta-analysis according to therapy types showed that for hypnosis, HFs scores instead of scores of HFs-related daily interference scale (HFRDIS) were significantly lowered at the post-treatment time point (d = −13.19, P < 0.001); for acupuncture, a small but significant effect on HFRDIS was found at the post-treatment time point (d = −3.34, P < 0.001). The effect was sustained during follow-up; however, no effect was evident for HFs frequency; for cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), at the post-treatment time point, but not during follow-up, a small but significant effect was documented for HFs score (d = −0.88, P < 0.01). No serious adverse effect was reported in the included studies.

Conclusions

Various types of non-pharmacological therapies were associated with significant effects on HFs in women with BC.

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Author notes

  1. Wei-Wei Tao and Xiao-Mei Tao contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Nursing, Dalian Medical University, 9 West section, Lvshun south road, Dalian, People’s Republic of China

    Wei-Wei Tao

  2. Beijing Shijitan Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University, Beijing, China

    Xiao-Mei Tao

  3. The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China

    Chun-Li Song

Authors
  1. Wei-Wei Tao
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Contributions

Conception and design: Wei-Wei Tao and Xiao-Mei Tao

Collection and assembly of data: Wei-Wei Tao and Xiao-Mei Tao

Data analysis and interpretation: Wei-Wei Tao and Chun-Li Song

Manuscript writing: All authors.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Wei-Wei Tao.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Tao, WW., Tao, XM. & Song, CL. Effects of non-pharmacological supportive care for hot flushes in breast cancer: a meta-analysis. Support Care Cancer 25, 2335–2347 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-017-3691-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-017-3691-y

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