Pre-Cancer Exercise Linked to Better Disease Outcomes

TOPLINE:

Physical activity before stage I cancer diagnosis is associated with reduced risk for disease progression and mortality. Members engaging in at least 60 minutes of weekly physical activity showed a 27% lower risk for progression and 47% lower risk for mortality compared with inactive individuals.

METHODOLOGY:

• Physical activity plays a significant role in reducing cancer mortality with high levels having been associated with an 18% reduction in cancer-specific mortality compared with lower levels in patients with pre- and/or post-diagnosed cancer.
• The new analysis included 28,248 members with stage I cancers enrolled in an oncology programme in South Africa, with physical activity recorded through fitness devices, logged gym sessions, and participation in organized events.
• Participants were categorized into three groups: No physical activity (0 min/wk), low physical activity (
• Researchers measured outcomes including time to progression, time to death, and all-cause mortality, with a follow-up period ranging from 1-154 months.
• Analysis adjusted for covariates including age, sex, socioeconomic status, and patient complexity measured by Johns Hopkins Adjusted Clinical Groups Systems software.

TAKEAWAY:

• Members with low physical activity showed a hazard ratio (HR) of 0.84 (95% CI, 0.79-0.89) for progression or death compared with those with no activity, whereas those with moderate to high activity showed an HR of 0.73 (95% CI, 0.70-0.77).
• For all-cause mortality, low physical activity members demonstrated an HR of 0.67 (95% CI, 0.61-0.74), whereas moderate to high activity members showed an HR of 0.53 (95% CI, 0.50-0.58) compared with inactive members.
• At 24 months post-diagnosis, individuals with moderate to high physical activity showed 80% probability of nonprogression compared with 74% for inactive individuals.
• Survival probability at 24 months was 95% for moderate to high activity members vs 91% for those with no physical activity.

IN PRACTICE:

“Physical activity may be considered to confer substantial benefits in terms of progression and overall mortality to those diagnosed with cancer. In a world where cancer continues to be a significant public health burden, the promotion of physical activity can yield important benefits regarding the progression of cancer as well as its prevention and management,” the authors of the study wrote.

SOURCE:

This study was led by Ntokozo Mabena of Discovery Vitality in Sandton, South Africa. It was published online in British Journal of Sports Medicine.

LIMITATIONS:

According to the authors, potential biases exist from not adjusting for confounding factors such as smoking status and alcohol consumption, along with incomplete body mass index data. The study assumed members without recorded physical activity points were inactive, which may not be accurate for all individuals. The findings may not be generalizable to the broader South African population as the study cohort had access to private medical insurance.

DISCLOSURES:

Authors Mabena, Sandra Lehmann, Deepak Patel, and Mosima Mabunda are employed by Discovery. Other authors Mike Greyling and Jon S Patricios serve as a consultant for Discovery and an editor of British Journal of Sports Medicine, respectively.

This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.