Home-based exercise interventions incorporating cardiac rehabilitation principles for people with cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

People with cancer are at increased cardiovascular risk due to treatment-related cardiotoxicity and shared risk factors. Exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation (exCR) may mitigate these risks, but access to center-based programs is limited. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the effectiveness, safety, and adherence of home-based exCR in oncology populations.

Six databases were searched in January 2025 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of home-based exCR in adults with cancer. Eligible interventions included structured aerobic and/or resistance exercise consistent with established CR guidelines. Primary outcomes were cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), health-related quality of life (HRQoL), adherence, and safety. Random-effects meta-analyses used standardized mean differences (SMDs).