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. 2023 Aug 31;7(5):pkad056.
doi: 10.1093/jncics/pkad056.

Changes in amount and intensity of physical activity over time in breast cancer survivors

Paulina S Marell  1 , Robert A Vierkant  2 , Janet E Olson  2 , Joerg Herrmann  3 , Nicole L Larson  2 , Nathan K Lebrasseur  4 , Stacy D D'Andre  5 , Diane K Ehlers  6 , Daniela L Stan  7 , Andrea L Cheville  4 , Toure Barksdale  4 , Charles L Loprinzi  5 , Fergus J Couch  8 , Kathryn J Ruddy  5
Affiliations

Changes in amount and intensity of physical activity over time in breast cancer survivors

Paulina S Marell et al. JNCI Cancer Spectr. .

Abstract

Background: Physical activity is associated with decreased breast cancer recurrence and mortality, as well as fewer treatment-related symptoms. Nevertheless, most breast cancer survivors do not meet physical activity guidelines. The purpose of this manuscript is to characterize physical activity trends over time in breast cancer survivors.

Methods: Mayo Clinic Breast Disease Registry participants received surveys at baseline and at 1 and 4 years after diagnosis; breast cancer recurrence and/or metastatic disease were exclusion criteria. Participants were considered to be meeting guidelines if they self-reported at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity (eg, fast walking) and/or strenuous (eg, jogging) physical activity per week. Statistical analyses include analysis of covariance methods, paired t tests, conditional logistic regression models, and McNemar tests of homogeneity.

Results: A total of 171 participants were included in the analysis. The amount of total physical activity decreased over time (P = .07). Mild-intensity physical activity (eg, easy walking) decreased most over time (P = .05). Among participants aged 18-49 years, mild-intensity (P = .05) and moderate-intensity (P = .02) physical activity decreased over time. Strenuous-intensity physical activity levels decreased over time among participants with a normal body mass index (P = .002) and with obesity (P = .01).

Conclusions: We found a trend-level decrease in total physical activity over time, driven mostly by a decrease in mild-intensity physical activity. Young breast cancer survivors are especially likely to reduce their physical activity over time. Further research on implementing physical activity guidelines in clinical practice is warranted.

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Conflict of interest statement

Dr Loprinzi reports personal fees from PledPharma, personal fees from Disarm Therapeutics, personal fees from Asahi Kasei/Veloxis, personal fees from Metys Pharmaceuticals, personal fees from OnQuality, personal fees from Mitsubishi Tanabe, personal fees from NKMax, personal fees from Novartis, personal fees from HengRui, personal fees from Nuro Bio, personal fees from Osmol Therapeutics, Inc, personal fees from Grunenthal, personal fees from Genentech, personal fees from Bexion, personal fees from Emmes Company, personal fees from Pfizer, and personal fees from Toray, all outside the submitted work. All other authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Participant flow diagram. MCBDR = Mayo Clinic Breast Disease Registry.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Average physical activity over time. Average minutes per week of mild-intensity, moderate-intensity, and strenuous physical activity at baseline, year 1, and year 4 timepoints. PA = physical activity.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Average physical activity over time by age group. Average minutes per week of mild-intensity, moderate-intensity, and strenuous physical activity by age group at baseline, year 1, and year 4 timepoints.
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Average physical activity over time by body mass index (BMI) group. Average minutes per week of mild-intensity, moderate-intensity, and strenuous physical activity by BMI group at baseline, year 1, and year 4 timepoints.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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