Yoga for Patients Undergoing Thoracic Radiotherapy and Their Family Caregivers: Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial.
Patients with advanced thoracic cancers undergoing standard radiotherapy (RT) have a high risk of experiencing performance declines and poor quality of life (QOL). Exercise programs may improve objective and subjective performance; yet, adherence remains poor. Including family caregivers as active intervention, participants may improve adherence and thus efficacy. Thus, this clinical trial seeks to examine the efficacy of a patient-caregiver dyadic yoga intervention relative to a dose-matched education/support (ES) intervention.
Patients with lung or esophageal cancer undergoing at least 5 weeks of RT and their family caregivers were randomly assigned to either a 15-session yoga or ES comparison intervention. Patients and caregivers were assessed at baseline (T1), the last day of RT (T2) and 1 (T3), 2 (T4), and 3 (T5) months later. Patients completed the 6-minute walk test (6MWT; primary outcome) and both patients and caregivers completed a validated QOL measure (secondary outcomes).
A total of 222 participants were randomly assigned. For the 6MWT, patients in the yoga group performed significantly better than those in the ES group across T2-T5 (least squared means [LSMs] in meters: yoga = 469 v ES = 441, P = .03). Patients in the yoga group also reported improved physical (LSMs: yoga = 44.7 v ES = 41.6, P = .03) but not mental QOL scores across T2-T5 compared with those in the ES group. As exploratory outcomes, patients in the yoga group also reported improved sleep (P = .01) and coping efficacy (P = .02).
Yoga significantly improves functional capacity and subjective physical QOL in patients undergoing thoracic RT. Involving a family caregiver may improve intervention adherence.
Patients with lung or esophageal cancer undergoing at least 5 weeks of RT and their family caregivers were randomly assigned to either a 15-session yoga or ES comparison intervention. Patients and caregivers were assessed at baseline (T1), the last day of RT (T2) and 1 (T3), 2 (T4), and 3 (T5) months later. Patients completed the 6-minute walk test (6MWT; primary outcome) and both patients and caregivers completed a validated QOL measure (secondary outcomes).
A total of 222 participants were randomly assigned. For the 6MWT, patients in the yoga group performed significantly better than those in the ES group across T2-T5 (least squared means [LSMs] in meters: yoga = 469 v ES = 441, P = .03). Patients in the yoga group also reported improved physical (LSMs: yoga = 44.7 v ES = 41.6, P = .03) but not mental QOL scores across T2-T5 compared with those in the ES group. As exploratory outcomes, patients in the yoga group also reported improved sleep (P = .01) and coping efficacy (P = .02).
Yoga significantly improves functional capacity and subjective physical QOL in patients undergoing thoracic RT. Involving a family caregiver may improve intervention adherence.
Authors
Milbury Milbury, Chen Chen, Li Li, Liao Liao, Whisenant Whisenant, Mama Mama, Bentley Bentley, Shannon Shannon, Yousuf Yousuf, Silva Silva, Tsao Tsao, Bruera Bruera, Cohen Cohen
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