Postdiagnosis Physical Activity And Survival By Cancer Type: A Pooled Analysis Of Six Cohorts

PURPOSE: Evidence for potential survival benefits of postdiagnosis moderate-vigorous intensity aerobic physical activity (MVPA) for survivors of cancer types beyond breast, colorectal, and prostate is limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate relationships between postdiagnosis MVPA and mortality in survivors of thirteen cancer types: oral cavity, esophageal, gastric cardia, kidney, pancreatic, lung, endometrial, ovarian, and bladder cancer, in addition to breast, colon, rectal, and prostate cancer. METHODS: Data were pooled from six cohort studies with MVPA reported ≥1 year postdiagnosis. Cohort-specific hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals (HR, CI) for associations of postdiagnosis MVPA and all-cause mortality were calculated using Cox proportional hazards models and then pooled using random effects meta-analysis. RESULTS: The sample included 79,235 cancer survivors (mean [SD] age at diagnosis = 67 [10] years), among whom 45,477 died during 10.9 [7.0] years of follow-up. Compared to engaging in no MVPA, recommended amounts (7.5- < 15 MET-hr./wk.) were related to a lower risk of premature mortality in survivors of nine specific cancer types (Figure 1, black). Results were similar when excluding participants who died within two years of follow-up (Figure 1, grey) CONCLUSION: Meeting physical activity guidelines postdiagnosis appeared to improve survival for survivors of five additional cancer types beyond breast, colon, rectal, and prostate cancer.Figure 1.: Pooled Hazard Ratios (HR) for all-cause mortality for meeting MVPA guidelines (7.5- < 15 MET-hr./wk.) vs. no MVPA (0 MET-hr./wk.) by cancer type. In black are main results, in grey are results when excluding those dying within two years of follow-up. Both models adjust for age, sex, race/ethnicity, smoking, alcohol, cancer treatment, stage, and time from diagnosis to survey.