Active Prevention: The Link Between Leisure-Time Physical Activity and Reduced Premenopausal Breast Cancer Risk
"Active Prevention" explores a comprehensive analysis revealing the protective role of leisure-time physical activity against premenopausal breast cancer. This study pooled data from 19 cohorts, involving over half a million women, to investigate the association between physical activity and breast cancer risk. Findings indicate a significant reduction in breast cancer risk with higher activity levels. The study utilized Multivariable Cox regression, a statistical method, to analyze risk associations, considering factors like body mass index (BMI) and breast cancer subtypes. Notably, the inverse relationship between activity and cancer risk was consistent across different levels of adiposity (body fat).
The results showed a 6-10% decrease in breast cancer risk correlating with high physical activity levels. This relationship appeared linear, with consistent findings across different subgroups, including various levels of body fat. A standout discovery was the stronger protective effect against human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-enriched breast cancer, a specific subtype, highlighting the potential for targeted prevention strategies.
In conclusion, "Active Prevention" underscores the importance of leisure-time physical activity as a potential preventative measure against premenopausal breast cancer. This significant research contributes to understanding lifestyle factors in cancer prevention, offering practical insights for public health strategies.
Article Information
International Pooled Analysis of Leisure-Time Physical Activity and Premenopausal Breast Cancer in Women From 19 Cohorts.
Published in J Clin Oncol. Iain R Timmins et al.
Abstract
Purpose: There is strong evidence that leisure-time physical activity is protective against postmenopausal breast cancer risk but the association with premenopausal breast cancer is less clear. The purpose of this study was to examine the association of physical activity with the risk of developing premenopausal breast cancer.
Methods: We pooled individual-level data on self-reported leisure-time physical activity across 19 cohort studies comprising 547,601 premenopausal women, with 10,231 incident cases of breast cancer. Multivariable Cox regression was used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs for associations of leisure-time physical activity with breast cancer incidence. HRs for high versus low levels of activity were based on a comparison of risk at the 90th versus 10th percentiles of activity. We assessed the linearity of the relationship and examined subtype-specific associations and effect modification across strata of breast cancer risk factors, including adiposity.
Results: Over a median 11.5 years of follow-up (IQR, 8.0-16.1 years), high versus low levels of leisure-time physical activity were associated with a 6% (HR, 0.94 [95% CI, 0.89 to 0.99]) and a 10% (HR, 0.90 [95% CI, 0.85 to 0.95]) reduction in breast cancer risk, before and after adjustment for BMI, respectively. Tests of nonlinearity suggested an approximately linear relationship (Pnonlinearity = .94). The inverse association was particularly strong for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-enriched breast cancer (HR, 0.57 [95% CI, 0.39 to 0.84]; Phet = .07). Associations did not vary significantly across strata of breast cancer risk factors, including subgroups of adiposity.
Conclusion: This large, pooled analysis of cohort studies adds to evidence that engagement in higher levels of leisure-time physical activity may lead to reduced premenopausal breast cancer risk.
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