Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33770257›Full record

SynthesisSupportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer2021

Physical function predicts mortality in patients with cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies.

Jiro Nakano, Takuya Fukushima, Takashi Tanaka, Jack B Fu, Shinichiro Morishita

Abstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 40 papers, 5 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
40citing papers in PubMed, 5 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

40 citing papers in PubMed, 5 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Effects of exercise on people living with advanced lung cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2026
    Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
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  6. Trial
  7. Supervised resistance exercise for women with ovarian cancer who have completed first-line treatment: a pragmatic study.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2023
    Trial
  8. Article
  9. Personalizing cancer care for older adults.The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences · 2026
    Article
  10. What patients would have liked to have known in advance about physical function due to cancer treatment.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2026
    Article
  11. Review
  12. Article
  13. Article
  14. Article
  15. Review
  16. Reference values for the PROMISBMC public health · 2025
    Article
  17. Observational
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  19. Article
  20. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Jiro NakanoDepartment of Rehabilitation, Kansai Medical University, Hirakata, Japan.
Takuya FukushimaDepartment of Musculoskeletal Oncology and Rehabilitation, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
Takashi TanakaDepartment of Rehabilitation, Hyogo College of Medicine Hospital, Nishinomiya, Japan.
Jack B FuDepartment of Palliative, Rehabilitation & Integrative Medicine, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
Shinichiro MorishitaInstitute for Human Movement and Medical Sciences, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, Niigata, Japan. ptmorishin@yahoo.co.jp.

Funding

Japan Society for the Promotion of Science 18K10711University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center CA 016672
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeThis systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine whether physical function can predict mortality in patients with cancer.

methodsLiterature searches were conducted in Web of Science, CINAHL, the Cochrane Library, ProQuest, PEDro, and PubMed for articles published before September 2020. Four review authors retrieved studies using predetermined eligibility criteria and conducted quality assessment and data extraction.

resultsA total of 1356 titles and abstracts were screened; ultimately, 26 studies were determined to be suitable for meta-analysis. Grip strength was significantly associated with mortality risk in patients with cancer (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.15, P = 0.005). Gait speed was also associated with mortality risk (HR = 1.58, P = 0.0004). In grip strength and gait speed, the subgroup comprised of patients with cancer aged ≥ 80 years had a higher effect size than that of patients aged < 80 years. The short physical performance battery measurement was markedly associated with mortality risk, showing the largest effect size (HR = 2.37, P < 0.00001). The 6-min walking test distance was significantly associated with mortality risk (HR = 1.55, P = 0.001). The timed up and go test was significantly associated with mortality risk with a high effect size (HR = 2.66, P < 0.00001).

conclusionThis systematic review and meta-analysis demonstrated that physical function predicted mortality in patients with cancer. Furthermore, physical function outcomes in patients aged 80 years and above reflected a higher mortality.

Indexed as

NeoplasmsPostural BalanceHumansTime and Motion StudiesCancerMortalityOncologyPhysical functionRehabilitation

Identifiers

PMID33770257

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.