Lifestyle interventions are feasible in patients with colorectal cancer with potential short-term health benefits: a systematic review

Moug, S. J., Bryce, A., Mutrie, N. and Anderson, A. S. (2017) Lifestyle interventions are feasible in patients with colorectal cancer with potential short-term health benefits: a systematic review. International Journal of Colorectal Disease, 32(6), pp. 765-775. (doi: 10.1007/s00384-017-2797-5) (PMID:28374148)

Abstract

Purpose: Lifestyle interventions have been proposed to improve cancer survivorship in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC), but with treatment pathways becoming increasingly multi-modal and prolonged, opportunities for interventions may be limited. This systematic review assessed the evidence for the feasibility of performing lifestyle interventions in CRC patients and evaluated any short- and long-term health benefits. Methods: Using PRISMA Guidelines, selected keywords identified randomised controlled studies (RCTs) of lifestyle interventions [smoking, alcohol, physical activity (PA) and diet/excess body weight] in CRC patients. These electronic databases were searched in June 2015: Dynamed, Cochrane Database, OVID MEDLINE, OVID EMBASE, and PEDro. Results: Fourteen RCTs were identified: PA RCTs (n = 10) consisted mainly of telephone-prompted walking or cycling interventions of varied durations, predominately in adjuvant setting; dietary/excess weight interventions RCTs (n = 4) focused on low-fat and/or high-fibre diets within a multi-modal lifestyle intervention. There were no reported RCTs in smoking or alcohol cessation/reduction. PA and/or dietary/excess weight interventions reported variable recruitment rates, but good adherence and retention/follow-up rates, leading to short-term improvements in dietary quality, physical, psychological and quality-of-life parameters. Only one study assessed long-term follow-up, finding significantly improved cancer-specific survival after dietary intervention. Conclusions: This is the first systematic review on lifestyle interventions in patients with CRC finding these interventions to be feasible with improvements in short-term health. Future work should focus on defining the optimal type of intervention (type, duration, timing and intensity) that not only leads to improved short-term outcomes but also assesses long-term survival.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Moug, Ms Susan
• Authors: Moug, S. J., Bryce, A., Mutrie, N., and Anderson, A. S.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing
• Journal Name: International Journal of Colorectal Disease
• Publisher: Springer
• ISSN: 0179-1958
• ISSN (Online): 1432-1262
• Published Online: 03 April 2017
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2017 The Authors
• First Published: First published in International Journal of Colorectal Disease 32(6):765-775
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License