Effects of Baduanjin exercise on cognitive function and cancer-related symptoms in women with breast cancer receiving chemotherapy: a randomized controlled trial

• DOI: 10.1007/s00520-022-07015-4
• Publication Date: 2022-04-13T09:08:03Z
• Authors: Xiaolin Wei; Ruzhen Yuan; Juan Yang; Wei Zheng; Yongmei Jin; Mingyue Wang; Jieting Jiang; Caiqin Wu; Kunpeng Li
• Keywords: Cancer-related fatigue; Depression

Abstract Purpose Cognitive decline is one of the main side effects of breast cancer patients after relevant treatment, but there is a lack of clear measures for prevention and management without definite mechanism. Moreover, postoperative patients also have a need for limb rehabilitation. Whether the cognitive benefits of Baduanjin exercise can improve the overall well-being of this breast cancer patients remains unknown. This study aims to figure out these problems in the under-researched Chinese population.Methods This randomized controlled trial was conducted on 70 patients with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy who were randomly assigned and allocated to (1:1) the supervised Baduanjin group (5 times/week, 30 min each time) or the control group for three months. The effects of Baduanjin exercise intervention were evaluated by outcome measures including subjective cognitive function, symptoms (fatigue, depression and anxiety) and health-related quality of life at pre-intervention (T0), 4 weeks (T1), 8 weeks (T2) and 12 weeks (T3). The collected data were analyzed by using an intention-to-treat principle and linear mixed-effects modeling.Results Participants in the Baduanjin group had a significantly greater improvement in terms of FACT-cog (F=14.511; P < 0.001), PCI (F=15.915; P < 0.001), PCA (F=2.767; P= 0.047), and health-related quality of life (F=8.900; p = 0.004) compared with the control group over the time. The exercise-cognition relationship was significantly mediated by reduced fatigue (indirect effect: β= 0.132; 95% CI: 0.046, 0.237) and improved anxiety (indirect effect: β=-0.075; 95% CI: -0.165, -0.004).Conclusions This pilot study revealed the benefits and outlined the underlying mediating mechanism of Baduanjin exercise to the subjective cognition and health-related quality of life of Chinese breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. The findings provided insights into the development of public health initiatives to promote brain health and improve quality of life among breast cancer patients.Trial registration number ChiCTR 2000033152