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Physical activity and risk of pancreatic cancer in a central European multicenter case–control study

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Abstract

Purpose

Findings from epidemiological studies examining physical activity in relation to pancreatic cancer risk have suggested decreased risks for physical activity; however, the results are inconsistent.

Methods

The association between occupational and leisure-time physical activity and risk of pancreatic cancer was examined among 826 pancreatic cancer cases and 930 age-, sex- and center-matched controls from a large multicenter central European study in Czech Republic and Slovakia recruited between 2004 and 2012. Data on physical activity including type and dose (frequency, intensity, and duration) were examined using multivariable-adjusted logistic regression models.

Results

Occupational physical activity was not significantly associated with risk of pancreatic cancer [odds ratio (OR) 0.90, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 0.71–1.15]. A 35 % decrease in risk of pancreatic cancer was observed for regular leisure-time physical activity (OR 0.65, 95 % CI 0.52–0.87). The risk estimates were significant for low and moderate intensity of activity with the strongest protective effect among individuals who exercised during more than 40 weeks per year. The results for cumulated leisure-time physical activity assessed 1 year prior to diagnosis achieved the same level of risk reduction. In addition, stronger risk estimates for leisure-time physical activity were observed among women (men: OR 0.74, 95 % CI 0.54–1.01; women: OR 0.53, 95 % CI 0.37–0.75). The findings for female participants were stronger for intensity and frequency of leisure-time physical activity, in particular for light and moderate activity (OR 0.43, 95 % CI 0.25–0.75; and OR 0.57, 95 % CI 0.37–0.88, respectively).

Conclusion

These results provide evidence for a decreased risk of pancreatic cancer associated with regular leisure-time physical activity.

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Abbreviations

GP:

General practitioner

OR:

Odds ratio

CI:

Confidence interval

MET:

Metabolic equivalent

BMI:

Body mass index

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by a grant from the US National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health (R03 CA123546-02); grants from the Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic (NR 9029-4/2006, NR9422-3, NR9998-3, MH CZ-DRO-MMCI 00209805); and a grant from the Ministry of Health of Slovakia (MZSR2007/17-RUVZBB-02).

Conflict of interest

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Genetic Epidemiology Group, International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), 150 cours Albert Thomas, 69372, Lyon Cedex 08, France

    Darren R. Brenner, Magdalena B. Wozniak, Clément Feyt, Aurelie Moskal, Paul Brennan & Ghislaine Scelo

  2. 1st Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Charles University in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic

    Ivana Holcatova

  3. Department of Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Palacky University, Olomouc, Czech Republic

    Vladimir Janout

  4. Department of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute, Brno, Czech Republic

    Lenka Foretova

  5. Regional Authority of Public Health in Banská Bystrica, Banska Bystrica, Slovakia

    Eleonora Fabianova & Zora Adamcakova

  6. Gastroenterology Department of Regional Hospital, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic

    Olga Shonova

  7. Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic

    Arnost Martinek

  8. Surgical Clinic of 2nd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and the Military University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic

    Miroslav Ryska

  9. Surgical Clinic, Franklin D. Roosevelt University Hospital, Banska Bystrica, Slovakia

    Erik Flaska

  10. Department of Population Health Research, Cancer Control Alberta, Alberta Health Services, Calgary, Canada

    Darren R. Brenner

Authors
  1. Darren R. Brenner
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  2. Magdalena B. Wozniak
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  3. Clément Feyt
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  12. Erik Flaska
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  13. Aurelie Moskal
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  14. Paul Brennan
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  15. Ghislaine Scelo
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ghislaine Scelo.

Additional information

Darren Brenner and Magdalena B. Wozniak have equally contributed to this work.

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Brenner, D.R., Wozniak, M.B., Feyt, C. et al. Physical activity and risk of pancreatic cancer in a central European multicenter case–control study. Cancer Causes Control 25, 669–681 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-014-0370-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-014-0370-x

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