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Int J Sports Med 2020; 41(03): 141-153
DOI: 10.1055/a-1073-8104
Review
© © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Exercise Interventions and Cardiovascular Health in Childhood Cancer: A Meta-analysis

Javier S. Morales
1   Universidad Europea de Madrid, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Madrid, Spain
,
Pedro L. Valenzuela
2   Department of Systems Biology, University of Alcalá, Madrid, Spain
,
Alba M. Herrera-Olivares
1   Universidad Europea de Madrid, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Madrid, Spain
,
Antonio Baño-Rodrigo
3   Cardiology Departament, Hospital Infantil Universitario Niño Jesús, Madrid, Spain
,
Adrián Castillo-García
4   Fissac – Physiology, Health and Physical Activity, Exercise and health, Madrid, Spain
,
Cecilia Rincón-Castanedo
1   Universidad Europea de Madrid, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Madrid, Spain
,
Asunción Martín-Ruiz
1   Universidad Europea de Madrid, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Madrid, Spain
,
Alejandro F. San-Juan
5   Laboratorio de Biomecánica Deportiva, Departamento de Salud y Rendimiento Humano, Facultad de Ciencias de la Actividad Física y del Deporte Universidad Politecnica de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
,
Carmen Fiuza-Luces
6   Research Institute of the Hospital 12 de Octubre (i+12) Madrid, Spain
,
Alejandro Lucia
1   Universidad Europea de Madrid, Faculty of Sport Sciences, Madrid, Spain
› Author Affiliations Funding Research by the authors is supported by the Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport [Javier S. Morales, contract #FPU14/03435, Cecilia Rincón-Castanedo, contract #FPU16/03956, and Alba M. Herrera-Olivares, contract #FPU18/00215]; Universidad de Alcalá [Pedro L. Valenzuela, contract #FPI2016]; the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness and Fondos Feder [Alejandro Lucia, grant #PI15/00558 and PI18/00139]; the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness [Miguel Servet research contract (Carmen Fiuza-Luces, ref. #CP18/00034)], ‘Fundación Unoentrecienmil’, ‘Fundación MAPFRE’ [Convocatoria Ignacio H. de Larramendi], and the National Conditioning and Strength Association (NCSA).
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Publication History



accepted 20 November 2019

Publication Date:
14 January 2020 (online)

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Abstract

This study analyzed the effects of physical exercise interventions on cardiovascular endpoints in childhood cancer survivors. Relevant articles were systematically searched in PubMed, CINAHL, and Web of Science databases (since inception to 11th September 2019). We performed a meta-analysis (random effects) to determine the mean difference (expressed together with 95% confidence intervals) between pre- and post-intervention values for those cardiovascular endpoints reported in more than three studies. Twenty-seven studies (of which 16 were controlled studies) comprising 697 participants were included. Only three studies reported adverse events related to exercise interventions. Exercise resulted in an increased performance on the 6-minute walk distance test (mean difference=111 m, 95% confidence interval=39–183, p=0.003) and a non-significant trend (mean difference=1.97 ml∙kg−1∙min−1, 95% confidence interval=−0.12–4.06, p=0.065) for improvement in peak oxygen uptake. Furthermore, left ventricular ejection fraction was preserved after exercise interventions (mean difference=0.29%, 95% confidence interval=−1.41–1.99, p=0.738). In summary, exercise interventions might exert a cardioprotective effect in childhood cancer survivors by improving – or attenuating the decline of – physical capacity and cardiovascular function. Further studies, particularly randomized controlled trials, are needed to confirm these benefits.

Key word

cardiovascular function - exercise is medicine - cardiorespiratory fitness - physical activity - physical capacity - pediatric cancer
 

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