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The effect of exercise interventions on quality of life in patients with multiple myeloma: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

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Abstract

Purpose

To determine the effect of exercise interventions on quality of life in adults with multiple myeloma.

Methods

A literature search of 10 sources was performed in June 2022 to identify eligible studies for synthesis. Inclusion criteria: randomised controlled trials comparing the effect of exercise interventions with usual care in adults with a diagnosis of multiple myeloma. The risk of bias was assessed using the Revised Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials. Meta-analysis was performed using a random-effects model with inverse variance and 95% confidence intervals. Forest plots were constructed to present pooled data.

Results

Five RCTs, which included a total of 519 participants, were selected for inclusion. Four of the five studies were included in the meta-analysis. The mean participant age ranged from 55 to 67 years old. All studies included an aerobic exercise component. Intervention length ranged from 6 to 30 weeks. Meta-analysis of 118 participants showed that exercise interventions had no impact on global quality of life (MD = 2.15, 95% CI: − 4.67, 8.97, p = 0.54, I2 = 0%). Exercise interventions negatively impacted participant grip strength (MD: − 3.69, 95% CI: − 7.12, -0.26, p = 0.03, I2 = 0%) according to pooled data from 186 participants.

Conclusion

Exercise interventions have no positive impact on the quality of life of patients with multiple myeloma. The analysis is limited by a high risk of bias across included studies and low certainty evidence. Further high-quality trials are needed to assess the role of exercise in patients with multiple myeloma.

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Data availability

Additional information is available in Online Resource 1 and 2. Datasets generated during this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Abbreviations

MM:

Multiple myeloma

QOL:

Quality of life

RCT:

Randomised controlled trial

PRISMA:

Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis

RoB 2:

Revised Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials

GRADE:

Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation

Hb:

Haemoglobin

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The authors did not receive financial support from any organisation for the preparation of this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust, Hertfordshire, UK

    Rebecca E. Goodhew

  2. University Hospital Southampton, Southampton, UK

    Ben A. Edwards

  3. University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK

    Rebecca E. Goodhew

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Contributions

R.E.G. conceptualised the review, performed the literature search, extracted data, assessed study quality, performed statistical analysis, prepared figures and wrote the first draft of the manuscript. BAE repeated the literature search, extracted data and reviewed the statistical analysis. Both authors revised the manuscript and approved the final version.

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Correspondence to Rebecca E. Goodhew.

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Goodhew, R.E., Edwards, B.A. The effect of exercise interventions on quality of life in patients with multiple myeloma: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. Clin Exp Med 23, 3217–3230 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10238-023-01058-5

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