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ARS Home » Plains Area » Houston, Texas » Children's Nutrition Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #243396
Title: Prospective relationships of physical activity with quality of life among colorectal cancer survivors

Author
item LYNCH, BRIGID - Cancer Council Queensland
item CERIN, ESTER - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC)
item OWEN, NEVILLE - University Of Queensland
item HAWKES, ANNA - Cancer Council Queensland
item AITKEN, JOANNE - Cancer Council Queensland

Submitted to: Journal of Clinical Oncology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/20/2008
Publication Date: 5/20/2008
Citation: Lynch, B.M., Cerin, E., Owen, N., Hawkes, A.L., Aitken, J.F. 2008. Prospective relationships of physical activity with quality of life among colorectal cancer survivors. Journal of Clinical Oncology. 26(27):4480-4487.

Interpretive Summary: Physical activity can enhance quality of life in cancer survivors. However, few longitudinal studies have examined whether physical activity has a sustained effect on improvements in quality of life. The present study aims to examine the relationships between physical activity and quality of life over 2 years after a colorectal cancer diagnosis. Data were collected on a sample of 1,966 people diagnosed with colorectal cancer. Participants completed telephone interviews at approximately 6, 12, and 24 months after diagnosis. Physical activity was positively associated with quality of life. At a given time point, participants achieving 150 minutes of physical activity per week had an 18% higher quality of life score than those who reported no physical activity. Significant associations were present at both inter-individual (differences between participants) and intra-individual level (within participant changes). This study suggests that the positive association between physical activity and quality of life is consistent over time. Encouraging colorectal cancer survivors to be physically active may be a helpful strategy for enhancing quality of life.

Technical Abstract: Physical activity can enhance quality of life for cancer survivors. However, few longitudinal studies have examined whether physical activity has a sustained effect on improvements in quality of life. The present study aims to examine the relationships between physical activity and quality of life over 2 years after a colorectal cancer diagnosis. Data were collected within the Colorectal Cancer and Quality of Life Study, in which 1,966 people diagnosed with colorectal cancer were recruited through the Queensland Cancer Registry. Participants completed telephone interviews at approximately 6, 12, and 24 months after diagnosis. Generalized linear mixed models were used to estimate the overall, interindividual, and intraindividual level independent effects of participation in physical activity on quality of life. There was an overall independent association between physical activity and quality of life. At a given time point, participants achieving at least 150 minutes of physical activity per week had an 18% higher quality of life score than those who reported no physical activity. Significant associations were also present at the interindividual level (differences between participants) and intraindividual level (within participant changes). These findings suggest that the positive association between physical activity and quality of life is consistent over time. Encouraging colorectal cancer survivors to be physically active may be a helpful strategy for enhancing quality of life.