Systematic review and meta-analysis of association between aerobic physical activity and depression among patients with cancer

Depression is prevalent among patients with cancer. Aerobic physical activity is an effective strategy for managing depression in the general population, but its effectiveness for reducing depressive symptoms among cancer patients is not clear. A systematic review and meta-analysis of 25 randomized clinical trials with a total of 1931 adults with cancer found that aerobic physical activity was associated with decreased self-reported depressive symptoms within one month after the end of the intervention and between 6 and 12 months after the end of the intervention compared with usual care, waitlist control, attention control, or no intervention. The authors conclude that aerobic physical activity should be recommended to adults with cancer for the reduction of depression.