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Physical activity in relation to quality of life in newly diagnosed colon cancer patients: a 24-month follow-up

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Abstract

Purpose

Self-reported health status in cancer patients is an independent predictor of medical outcomes. This study investigated the association between changes in recreational physical activity in colon cancer survivors and quality of life (QoL) across a 24-month follow-up beginning at diagnosis.

Methods

Patients (n = 453) diagnosed with stage II colon cancer were recruited from the North Carolina Central Cancer Registry from 2009 to 2011. Patients were interviewed annually about health behaviors (e.g., dietary intake, physical activity, alcohol and tobacco use), socioeconomic variables, and treatment. To index QoL, the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Colorectal (FACT-C) and Short Form-12 (SF-12) were utilized.

Results

Baseline vigorous exercise showed a positive correlation with the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G) Colorectal Cancer Scale (CCS) (β = 0.15, 95 % CI 0.07–0.23), FACT-C (β = 0.39, 95 % CI 0.06–0.72), and Trial Outcome Index (TOI) (β = 0.28, 95 % CI 0.01–0.55). Race modified the association between vigorous activity and the FACT-G (P interaction = 0.010), FACT-C (P interaction = 0.020), TOI (P interaction < 0.010), and the PCS (P interaction < 0.010). As compared to no change, increasing physical activity over a 24-month period following diagnosis significantly improved scores from the FACT-G (β = 3.13, 95 % CI 0.48–5.77, P trend = 0.054), FACT-C (β = 3.51, 95 % CI 0.35–6.68, P trend = 0.08) TOI (β = 2.46, 95 % CI 0.16–4.75, P trend = 0.04), and PCS of the SF-12 (β = 3.28, 95 % CI 0.93–5.63, P trend < 0.01).

Conclusion

Vigorous exercise is a significant predictor of higher QoL in stage II colon cancer patients. Patients with increased recreational physical activity have significantly improved QoL over 24 months following diagnosis.

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Abbreviations

QoL:

Quality of life

CRC:

Colorectal cancer

NCCCR:

North Carolina Central Cancer Registry

CCS:

Colorectal Cancer Scale

FACT-G:

Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General

FACT-C:

Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Colorectal Cancer

TOI:

Trial Outcome Index

SF-12:

12-Item Short Form Survey of Medical Outcomes

PCS:

Physical component summary

MCS:

Mental component summary

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by a research grant from American Cancer Society (RSGT-08-094-CPPB). The sponsors were not involved in the design of the study or in the data analyses or manuscript elaboration.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anthropology, College of Arts and Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA

    Cari Lewis

  2. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health - Bloomington, Indiana University, 1025 E. Seventh Street, SPH C032, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA

    Pengcheng Xun & Ka He

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Lewis, C., Xun, P. & He, K. Physical activity in relation to quality of life in newly diagnosed colon cancer patients: a 24-month follow-up. Qual Life Res 23, 2235–2246 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-014-0679-7

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