Exercise for Depression in Older Adults: a Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials Adjusting for Publication Bias

Overview

Journal Braz J Psychiatry

Specialty Psychiatry

Date 2016 Sep 10

PMID 27611903

Citations 80

Authors

Felipe B Schuch

Davy Vancampfort

Simon Rosenbaum

Justin Richards

Philip B Ward

Nicola Veronese

Marco Solmi

Eduardo L Cadore

Brendon Stubbs

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the antidepressant effects of exercise in older adults, using randomized controlled trial (RCT) data.

Methods: We conducted a meta-analysis of exercise in older adults, addressing limitations of previous works. RCTs of exercise interventions in older people with depression (≥ 60 years) comparing exercise vs. control were eligible. A random-effects meta-analysis calculating the standardized mean difference (SMD) (95% confidence interval [95%CI]), meta-regressions, and trim, fill, and fail-safe number analyses were conducted.

Results: Eight RCTs were included, representing 138 participants in exercise arms and 129 controls. Exercise had a large and significant effect on depression (SMD = -0.90 [95%CI -0.29 to -1.51]), with a fail-safe number of 71 studies. Significant effects were found for 1) mixed aerobic and anaerobic interventions, 2) at moderate intensity, 3) that were group-based, 4) that utilized mixed supervised and unsupervised formats, and 5) in people without other clinical comorbidities.

Conclusion: Adjusting for publication bias increased the beneficial effects of exercise in three subgroup analysis, suggesting that previous meta-analyses have underestimated the benefits of exercise due to publication bias. We advocate that exercise be considered as a routine component of the management of depression in older adults.

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