The effect of YOCAS©® yoga on cancer-related fatigue and quality of life in older (60+) vs. younger (≤ 59) cancer survivors: Secondary analysis of a nationwide, multicenter, phase 3 randomized controlled trial.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to compare the effects of yoga, which includes mindfulness, on cancer-related fatigue and quality of life in older (60+) versus younger (≤59) cancer survivors.
Results Summary
The study found statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvements in cancer-related fatigue and quality of life for both age groups, with no significant differences between them. Most participants reported improved sleep quality and would recommend yoga to other survivors.
Population
Older (60+) and younger (≤59) cancer survivors.
Effective Dosage
Gentle Hatha and Restorative Yoga, including mindfulness, performed 2-3 times per week.
Duration
4 weeks
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
gentle Hatha and Restorative Yoga | decrease | cancer-related fatigue (CRF) | participants aged ≤59 | 4.0 ± 0.7 | statistically significant and clinically meaningful within-group improvements | #1 |
gentle Hatha and Restorative Yoga | decrease | cancer-related fatigue (CRF) | participants aged 60+ | 3.1 ± 1.0 | statistically significant and clinically meaningful within-group improvements | #2 |
gentle Hatha and Restorative Yoga | increase | quality of life (QOL) | participants aged ≤59 | 3.2 ± 0.8 | improvements | #3 |
gentle Hatha and Restorative Yoga | increase | quality of life (QOL) | participants aged 60+ | 2.1 ± 1.2 | improvements | #4 |
gentle Hatha and Restorative Yoga | increase | physical well-being | participants aged ≤59 | 1.6 ± 0.3 | improvements | #5 |
gentle Hatha and Restorative Yoga | increase | physical well-being | participants aged 60+ | 0.8 ± 0.5 | improvements | #6 |
gentle Hatha and Restorative Yoga | increase | functional well-being | participants aged ≤59 | 0.7 ± 0.3 | improvements | #7 |
gentle Hatha and Restorative Yoga | increase | functional well-being | participants aged 60+ | 1.0 ± 0.5 | improvements | #8 |
gentle Hatha and Restorative Yoga | increase | emotional well-being | participants aged ≤59 | - | improvements | #9 |
gentle Hatha and Restorative Yoga | increase | emotional well-being | participants aged 60+ | - | improvements | #10 |
gentle Hatha and Restorative Yoga | no change | CRF and QOL | older survivors vs. younger survivors | - | no significant between-group differences | #11 |
gentle Hatha and Restorative Yoga | increase | sleep quality | younger participants | 92.8% | helped improve | #12 |
gentle Hatha and Restorative Yoga | increase | sleep quality | older participants | 88.5% | helped improve | #13 |
INTRODUCTION: Older cancer survivors consistently express the need for interventions to reduce cancer-related fatigue (CRF) and maintain quality of life (QOL). Yoga is a promising treatment to address CRF and QOL. However, research comparing the efficacy of yoga for improving fatigue and QOL in older survivors (60+) vs. younger adult survivors (≤59)is limited. Our objective was to examine the effects of yoga on CRF and QOL in older survivors vs. younger survivors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a secondary analysis of a nationwide, multicenter, phase 3 randomized controlled trial. For this study, participants who provided evaluable pre- and post-intervention data on the Functional Assessment for Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue (FACIT-F) and the Functional Assessment for Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G) were eligible. The yoga intervention comprises gentle Hatha and Restorative Yoga and includes breathing exercises, physical alignment postures, and mindfulness. RESULTS: Of the 177 participants included in the study, 30.1 % were aged 60+ and 69.9 % were aged ≤59. More younger participants had breast cancer (82.0 % vs. 59.2 %. p = 0.009), surgery (98.9 % vs. 77.8 %, p < 0.001), and chemotherapy (80.5 % vs. 55.6 %, p = 0.001). There were no differences in the cancer stage (66.1 % stage I or II). There were statistically significant and clinically meaningful within-group improvements from baseline to post-intervention in CRF for participants aged ≤59 and participants aged 60+ (4.0 ± 0.7, p < 0.001 vs. 3.1 ± 1.0, p = 0.003). Both age groups also demonstrated improvements in QOL (3.2 ± 0.8, p < 0.001 vs. 2.1 ± 1.2, p = 0.078), physical (1.6 ± 0.3, p < 0.001 vs. 0.8 ± 0.5, p = 0.084), functional (0.7 ± 0.3, p = 0.048 vs. 1.0 ± 0.5, p = 0.037), and emotional well-being. There were no significant between-group differences between the age groups. Most younger and older participants reported that yoga helped improve their sleep quality (92.8 % vs 88.5 %) and they would recommend it to other survivors (98.2 % vs 90.4 %). DISCUSSION: Older cancer survivors who undergo gentle Hatha and restorative yoga performed two to three times per week for four weeks at a low to moderate level of intensity have similar improvements in CRF and QOL compared to participants aged ≤59. For older survivors experiencing these toxicities, it is reasonable for clinicians to prescribe yoga. CLINICALTRIALS: govidentifier: NCT00397930.