OBJECTIVES: There is mounting evidence indicating that physical activity (PA) is an important factor affecting quality of life (QoL) outcomes in cancer patients. We performed a systematic review to quantify the amount of evidence-based data available, on the effect of PA on QoL of patients with multiple myeloma (MM).

METHODS: We conducted a literature search in PubMed/Medline to identify studies published between January 2008 and May 2018, focusing on the impact of PA on either QoL or other patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in MM patients. The search strategy included all studies regardless of the design or number of patients included. Case reports, study protocols and abstracts were excluded. Two independent reviewers screened eligible studies and recorded information on PA measures (e.g. total length and type of exercises), PROs and clinical variables, according to a pre-defined coding scheme.

RESULTS: The systematic search yielded 28 records, but only three studies published between 2012 and 2015 were selected (one Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT), one single arm study and one retrospective study). These included two studies on newly diagnosed patients (patients undergoing induction therapies) and one on patients in stable disease (patients off treatment or on maintenance therapy). In all studies, PA was prescribed as intervention with pre-defined exercises. In the RCT, the PA intervention was 15 weeks long and it slightly influenced QoL, with a minimal effect on decreasing fatigue. In the remaining two studies, where PA interventions were 6 weeks and 6 months long respectively, PA improved QoL and significantly decreased fatigue over time.

CONCLUSIONS: Whilst there is sparse evidence on the effects of PA in MM patients, the few data available suggest that PA interventions are associated to QoL improvements. There is urgent need of studies in this area to possibly further improve healthcare delivery in MM patients.