How Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior Influence Longevity in Female Cancer Survivors
Surviving cancer marks a significant victory, but the journey toward long-term health continues well beyond remission. Recent research has delved into how daily movement patterns—specifically, physical activity and sedentary behavior—affect the lifespan of female cancer survivors. Utilizing accelerometers, devices that accurately measure movement, scientists gathered objective data on activity levels, providing a clearer picture than self-reported methods.
Findings revealed that higher levels of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, such as brisk walking or cycling, were associated with a reduced risk of mortality among these women. Conversely, prolonged sedentary periods, like extended sitting or inactivity, correlated with an increased risk. This suggests that not only does regular exercise contribute to longevity, but minimizing inactive time also plays a crucial role in enhancing survival rates.
These insights underscore the importance of integrating more movement into daily routines for female cancer survivors. Simple changes, like incorporating short walks, standing breaks, or engaging in enjoyable physical activities, can make a significant difference. By prioritizing both increased activity and reduced sedentary behavior, survivors can take proactive steps toward improving their overall health and extending their lifespan.
Article Information
Accelerometer-measured physical activity, sedentary behavior, and mortality among cancer survivors: the Women's Health Accelerometry Collaboration
Published in JNCI Cancer Spectrum. Eric T. Hyde et al.
Abstract
Background: Data on prospective associations of accelerometer-measured physical activity (PA), sedentary behavior (SB), and mortality among cancer survivors are lacking. Our study examined accelerometer-measured daily PA (including light, moderate-to-vigorous PA [MVPA], total PA, and steps), SB (sitting time and mean bout duration), and mortality among cancer survivors in the Women's Health Accelerometry Collaboration (WHAC).
Methods: Postmenopausal women in WHAC who reported a cancer diagnosis ≥1 year prior to wearing an ActiGraph GT3X+ on the hip for ≥4 of 7 days from 2011-2015 were included. Outcomes included all-cause, cancer, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality. Covariate-adjusted Cox regression estimated hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for each PA and SB measure in association with mortality.
Results: Overall, 2,479 cancer survivors (mean [SD] age, 74.2 [6.7] years) were followed for 8.3 years. For all-cause mortality (n = 594 cases), every 78.1 min/day in light PA, 96.5 min/day in total PA, 102.2 min/day in sitting time, and 4.8 min in sitting bout duration had HRs (95%CIs) of 0.92 (0.84-1.01), 0.89 (0.80-0.98), 1.12 (1.02-1.24) and 1.04 (0.96-1.12), respectively. Linear associations for cancer mortality (n = 168) and CVD mortality (n = 109) were not statistically significant except for steps (HR per 2,469 steps/day=0.66, 95%CI: 0.45-0.96) and sitting time (HR = 1.30, 95%CI: 1.02-1.67) for CVD mortality. Nonlinear associations showed benefits of MVPA (for all-cause and CVD mortality) and steps (all-cause mortality only) maximized around 60 min/day and 5,000 steps/day, respectively.
Conclusions: Among postmenopausal cancer survivors, higher PA and lower SB was associated with reduced hazards of all-cause and CVD mortality.
Bring preventive care to your clinic
© Longevity Artificial Intelligence. All rights reserved.