Impact of exercise-based prehabilitation on cardiometabolic health in surgical patients with cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis Article

Full Text via DOI: 10.1007/s00520-025-09940-6 Web of Science: 001580829100002

Cited authors

  • Fernandez-Escabias M, Jurado J, Carrilho-Candeias S, Orellana-Jaen A, Corres P, Marmol-Perez A, Lavie CJ, Carneiro-Barrera A, Nestares T, Amaro-Gahete FJ

Abstract

  • ObjectiveThis systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to establish the effects of exercise-based prehabilitation programs on cardiometabolic health in patients with cancer undergoing surgery.Data sourceA systematic search was conducted in MEDLINE (via PubMed) and Web of Science from inception to June 2023.Study selectionThe original systematic search retrieved 16,752 studies. After removal of duplicates and screening by title and abstract, 200 articles were eligible for full-text revision. Finally, a total of nine randomized controlled trials (RCTs), four controlled studies, and six uncontrolled before-and-after studies were included.Outcome measuresChanges in blood pressure (systolic and diastolic), lipid metabolism (total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides levels), glycemic metabolism (fasting glucose, insulin, homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance, and insulin-growth factor-1), and inflammatory biomarkers (i.e., interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, c-reactive protein, and vascular endothelial growth factor) were assessed.ResultsThe total sample was composed of 651 participants (n = 311 intervention and n = 239 control from RCTs and controlled studies; n = 101 intervention from before-and-after studies), aged 64.90 +/- 8.87 years (33.76% women). The meta-analyses of uncontrolled before-and-after studies revealed significant prehabilitation-induced reductions in systolic and diastolic blood pressure (d = - 0.47 and - 0.57, respectively). However, no changes were noted in lipid and glycemic metabolism or inflammatory biomarkers in either controlled or uncontrolled before-and-after studies.LimitationsThese findings should be interpreted with caution. The small evidence base, inclusion of uncontrolled designs, substantial between-study heterogeneity, and the possibility of publication bias limit the robustness and generalizability of the conclusions.ConclusionsExercise-based prehabilitation programs seems to be effective at reducing blood pressure in patients with cancer undergoing surgery. No effects were noted in other cardiometabolic health outcomes included.

Authors

Publication date

  • 2025

Published in

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 0941-4355

Number of pages

  • 18

Volume

  • 33

Issue

  • 10