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High-intensity interval training effects in cardiorespiratory fitness of lung cancer survivors: a systematic review and meta-analysis

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Abstract

Purpose

To assess the exercise intervention focused on high-intensity interval training (HIIT) in lung cancer survivors.

Design

We performed a literature search using PubMed, Web of Science, and Science Direct (last search March 2021). Quality assessment and risk of bias were assessed using the Downs and Black scale and the Cochrane tool.

Participants

A total of 305 patients of 8 studies were assessed, with their mean age ranging from 61 ± 6.3 to 66 ± 10 years in the exercise group and from 58.5 ± 8.2 to 68 ± 9 years in the control group.

Methods

A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials and pilot randomized controlled trials was performed. We included controlled trials testing the effect of HIIT in lung cancer survivors versus the usual care provided to these patients. The data were pooled and a meta-analysis was completed for cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2peak).

Results

We selected 8 studies, which included 305 patients with lung cancer: 6 studies were performed around surgical moment, one study during radiotherapy’s treatment, and other during target therapy. After pooling the data, exercise capacity was included in the analysis. Results showed significant differences in favour to HIIT when compared to usual care in cardiorespiratory fitness (standard mean difference = 2.62; 95% confidence interval = 1.55, 3.68; p < 0.00001).

Conclusions and implications

The findings indicated a beneficial effect of HIIT for improving cardiorespiratory fitness in lung cancer patients in early stages around oncological treatment moment. Nevertheless, this review has several limitations, the total number of studies was low, and the stage and subtype of lung cancer patients were heterogeneous that means that the conclusions of this review should be taken with caution.

Review registration: PROSPERO Identifier: CRD42021231229

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Funding

Heredia-Ciuró Alejandro received financial support through grant FPU: PP20/05 for the training of university faculty from the University of Granada. The author Calvache-Mateo Andrés has received financial support through a FPU (“Formación Profesorado Universitario”) grant (FPU:19/02609) of the Spanish Ministry of Education. Rodriguez-Torres Janet has received financial support through a FPU (“Formación Profesorado Universitario”) grant (FPU: 16/01531) of the Spanish Ministry of Education. López-López Laura received financial support through grant FPU:17/00408 for the training of university faculty from the Spanish Ministry of Education.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Granada, Av. De la Ilustración, 60, 18016, Granada, Spain

    Alejandro Heredia-Ciuró, Javier Martín-Núñez, Andrés Calvache-Mateo, Janet Rodríguez-Torres, Laura López-López & Marie Carmen Valenza

  2. Department of Nursing and Physical Therapy, University of Almeria, Almeria, Spain

    Manuel Fernández-Sánchez

Authors
  1. Alejandro Heredia-Ciuró
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  2. Manuel Fernández-Sánchez
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  3. Javier Martín-Núñez
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  4. Andrés Calvache-Mateo
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  5. Janet Rodríguez-Torres
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  6. Laura López-López
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  7. Marie Carmen Valenza
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Contributions

The author Valenza Marie Carmen had full access to all the data in the study and takes responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis. Heredia-Ciuró Alejandro and Fernández-Sánchez Manuel had full access to all the data in the study and take responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis. Martín-Núñez Javier, Calvache-Mateo Andrés, Rodríguez-Torres Janet, and López-López Laura contributed substantially to the study design, data analysis, and interpretation, and the writing of the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Marie Carmen Valenza.

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Heredia-Ciuró, A., Fernández-Sánchez, M., Martín-Núñez, J. et al. High-intensity interval training effects in cardiorespiratory fitness of lung cancer survivors: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Support Care Cancer 30, 3017–3027 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-021-06647-2

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