Association between Physical Activity and Quality of Life in Colorectal Cancer Patients with Postoperative Defecatory Dysfunction: A Preliminary Survey

Abstract

In this study, we aimed to explore the association between physical activity (PA) and quality of life (QoL) in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients with postoperative defecatory dysfunction. A survey using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer QLQ-30 and QLQ-29 was conducted among 62 adult outpatients with CRC at two cancer hospitals in Japan. PA and sedentary behavior were evaluated using the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire. Multiple regression analysis was performed, incorporating the QoL as the outcome, with the total PA and its three domains (occupational, transportation, and recreational) and sedentary time as exposures, while controlling for age, sex, and tumor location. The analyses revealed that patients engaged in PA ≥ 150 min/week (67.4 points; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 21.1, 113.8) and recreational PA ≥ 30 min/week (56.0 points; 95% CI: 2.3, 109.7) had significantly higher function scores. Conversely, sedentary time >8 h/day or occupational PA duration ≥30 min/week was associated with poor symptom and function scores. These findings highlight the importance of promoting recreational PA and reducing sedentary behavior to maintain and improve the QoL in CRC patients with defecatory dysfunction.

Keywords: colorectal cancer; defecatory dysfunction; physical activity; quality of life; sedentary behavior; survivor.