- 2026-05-16
- Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer 34(6)
- Yalei Li
- Jiahui Wang
- Zhen Wang
- Jiajia Yun
- Yu Yang
- Xiaohan Yang
- Xiaofei Xiao
- Chao Ren
Study Design
- Type
- Meta-Analysis
- Population
- breast cancer patients
- Methods
- Systematic search for RCTs in English and Chinese, literature quality assessed using Cochrane Risk of Bias tool, data analyzed with Review Manager 5.4.1, subgroup analyses by treatment type and assessment scale
Background
While yoga is known to benefit depression in breast cancer patients, its efficacy as an adjunct to diverse treatment regimens remains unclear. This study evaluated yoga's efficacy in alleviating depression during varied breast cancer therapies and supports its clinical integration as a complementary intervention.Methods
Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, we systematically searched for RCTs in English and Chinese. Literature quality was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool. Data were analyzed with Review Manager 5.4.1, including subgroup analyses by treatment type and assessment scale.Results
Analysis of 21 studies showed yoga significantly reduced depression levels [SMD = -0.58, 95% CI (-0.83, -0.32), P < 0.00001]. Subgroup analyses revealed a significant combined mean difference among the surgery group [SMD: -1.04], the postoperative radiotherapy group [SMD: -2.47], and the postoperative chemotherapy group [SMD: -0.46]. The group receiving postoperative radiotherapy demonstrated a significantly greater improvement in depression. Subgroup analyses of scale-assessed effects confirmed the validity of the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CESD), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS). The HADS demonstrated a greater effect size [SMD = -1.19, 95% CI (-2.13, -0.24), P = 0.01].Conclusions
The impact varied among those undergoing different treatment regimens. Notably, the degree of improvement in depression appeared to be greater in the postoperative radiotherapy group. HADS is a practical self-assessment scale that has demonstrated considerable improvement and is recommended for use in breast cancer patients with depression.