TY - JOUR
T1 - Effect of Light Therapy on Cancer-Related Fatigue
T2 - A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
AU - Xiao, Panpan
AU - Ding, Siqing
AU - Duan, Yinglong
AU - Li, Lijun
AU - Zhou, Yi
AU - Luo, Xiaofei
AU - Xie, Jianfei
AU - Cheng, Andy SK
N1 - Funding Information:
This study was funded by the Wisdom Accumulation and Talent Cultivation Project of the Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University [ YX202006 ] and the National Natural Science Foundation of China [ 82073409 ].
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine
PY - 2021/9/23
Y1 - 2021/9/23
N2 - Context: Light therapy is a non-pharmacological therapy that is currently being studied in cancer-related symptoms and is certificated as a low-risk intervention by FDA. Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is the most common symptom reported by cancer patients. Objective: To examine the effectiveness of light therapy for CRF in cancer patients through a systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods: We conducted a systematic review of four electronic databases targeted randomized clinical trials evaluating light therapy for CRF (CRD42020215446), from inception to May 2021. The primary outcome was changes of CRF scores; secondary outcomes included depression, sleep, and quality of life (QoL). We quantitatively pooled outcomes using meta-analysis with random-effects models and assessed methodological bias. Results: We identified thirteen RCTs representing 551 cancer patients, encompassing breast (n = 5), ovarian or endometrial (n = 1), multiple myeloma (n = 1), lung (n = 1), or combined (n = 5) cancers. The comparison groups included dim light (n = 12) and waiting list (n = 1). Duration of intervention ranged from 1 to 12 weeks. Light intensities ranged from 417.9 to 12,000 lux. Light therapy was associated with a significant improvement in CRF (SMD = 0.45, P = 0.007), depression (SMD = -0.26, P = 0.03) and sleep difficulty (SMD = -2.46, P = 0.0006); a statistically non-significant trend was observed for QoL (SMD = 0.33, P = 0.09). Funnel plots for CRF suggest not significant publication bias. Conclusion: Light therapy could be a feasible and effective option for improving CRF in cancer patients. Larger sample, rigor trials design and a standard protocol of intervention are needed to draw more conclusive conclusions.
AB - Context: Light therapy is a non-pharmacological therapy that is currently being studied in cancer-related symptoms and is certificated as a low-risk intervention by FDA. Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is the most common symptom reported by cancer patients. Objective: To examine the effectiveness of light therapy for CRF in cancer patients through a systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods: We conducted a systematic review of four electronic databases targeted randomized clinical trials evaluating light therapy for CRF (CRD42020215446), from inception to May 2021. The primary outcome was changes of CRF scores; secondary outcomes included depression, sleep, and quality of life (QoL). We quantitatively pooled outcomes using meta-analysis with random-effects models and assessed methodological bias. Results: We identified thirteen RCTs representing 551 cancer patients, encompassing breast (n = 5), ovarian or endometrial (n = 1), multiple myeloma (n = 1), lung (n = 1), or combined (n = 5) cancers. The comparison groups included dim light (n = 12) and waiting list (n = 1). Duration of intervention ranged from 1 to 12 weeks. Light intensities ranged from 417.9 to 12,000 lux. Light therapy was associated with a significant improvement in CRF (SMD = 0.45, P = 0.007), depression (SMD = -0.26, P = 0.03) and sleep difficulty (SMD = -2.46, P = 0.0006); a statistically non-significant trend was observed for QoL (SMD = 0.33, P = 0.09). Funnel plots for CRF suggest not significant publication bias. Conclusion: Light therapy could be a feasible and effective option for improving CRF in cancer patients. Larger sample, rigor trials design and a standard protocol of intervention are needed to draw more conclusive conclusions.
KW - cancer
KW - cancer-related fatigue
KW - fatigue
KW - Light treatment
KW - meta-analysis
KW - phototherapy
KW - quality of life
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85118166028&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2021.09.010
DO - 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2021.09.010
M3 - Review article
C2 - 34563631
AN - SCOPUS:85118166028
SN - 0885-3924
JO - Journal of Pain and Symptom Management
JF - Journal of Pain and Symptom Management
ER -
