Association between leisure-time physical activity and incident cancer risk: a nationwide population-based cohort study

Yun-Ju Lai^{1

2

3

4}, Chun-Chieh Wang^{5

6}, Yu-Kai Lin^#⁷, Mei-Ju Chen^#^{4

8}, Yi-Sheng Chou^{1

9

10}, Chu-Chieh Chen⁴, Chieh-Yu Liu⁴, Shang-Jung Wu¹¹, Li-Fei Hsu¹², Jia-Hua Li⁴, Yung-Feng Yen^#^{13

14

15

16}

Affiliations

¹ School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan.
² Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Puli Branch of Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Nantou, Taiwan.
³ Department of Exercise Health Science, National Taiwan University of Sport, Taichung, Taiwan.
⁴ Department of Health Care Management, National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences, Taipei, Taiwan.
⁵ Division of Chest Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Puli Branch of Taichung, Veterans General Hospital, Nantou, Taiwan.
⁶ Department of Eldercare, Central Taiwan University of Science and Technology Taichung, Taichung, Taiwan.
⁷ Department of Health and Welfare, College of City Management, University of Taipei, Taipei City, Taiwan.
⁸ Family Medicine Department, Heping Fuyou Branch, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
⁹ Department of Hematology and Oncology, Renai Branch, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
¹⁰ Institute of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan.
¹¹ Department of Nursing, Puli Branch of Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Nantou, Taiwan.
¹² Section of Infectious Diseases, Yangming Branch, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
¹³ Section of Infectious Diseases, Yangming Branch, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. yfyen1@gmail.com.
¹⁴ Institute of Public Health, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan. yfyen1@gmail.com.
¹⁵ Department of Education and Research, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei City, Taiwan. yfyen1@gmail.com.
¹⁶ Department of Psychology and Counseling, University of Taipei, Taipei, Taiwan. yfyen1@gmail.com.

^# Contributed equally.

PMID: 39453482
PMCID: PMC11511801
DOI: 10.1186/s40798-024-00780-y

Association between leisure-time physical activity and incident cancer risk: a nationwide population-based cohort study

Yun-Ju Lai et al. Sports Med Open. 2024.

. 2024 Oct 25;10(1):116.

doi: 10.1186/s40798-024-00780-y.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan.
² Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Puli Branch of Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Nantou, Taiwan.
³ Department of Exercise Health Science, National Taiwan University of Sport, Taichung, Taiwan.
⁴ Department of Health Care Management, National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences, Taipei, Taiwan.
⁵ Division of Chest Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Puli Branch of Taichung, Veterans General Hospital, Nantou, Taiwan.
⁶ Department of Eldercare, Central Taiwan University of Science and Technology Taichung, Taichung, Taiwan.
⁷ Department of Health and Welfare, College of City Management, University of Taipei, Taipei City, Taiwan.
⁸ Family Medicine Department, Heping Fuyou Branch, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
⁹ Department of Hematology and Oncology, Renai Branch, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
¹⁰ Institute of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan.
¹¹ Department of Nursing, Puli Branch of Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Nantou, Taiwan.
¹² Section of Infectious Diseases, Yangming Branch, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
¹³ Section of Infectious Diseases, Yangming Branch, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. yfyen1@gmail.com.
¹⁴ Institute of Public Health, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan. yfyen1@gmail.com.
¹⁵ Department of Education and Research, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei City, Taiwan. yfyen1@gmail.com.
¹⁶ Department of Psychology and Counseling, University of Taipei, Taipei, Taiwan. yfyen1@gmail.com.

^# Contributed equally.

PMID: 39453482
PMCID: PMC11511801
DOI: 10.1186/s40798-024-00780-y

Abstract

Background: The effects of physical activity on the development of different types of cancers have not been comprehensively studied. This nationwide, population-based cohort study investigated the effects of leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) on the development of different types of cancer in Taiwanese adults. A total of 67,890 adult participants (≥ 18 y old) from five rounds (2001, 2005, 2009, 2013, and 2017) of the Taiwan National Health Interview Survey were included. LTPA was measured as the metabolic equivalent of task (MET) expenditure per week and was classified as inactive (< 1 MET-h), low (1-7.49 MET-h), or high (≥ 7.5 MET-h). The LTPA and other covariates were collected through in-person interviews at baseline. New-onset cancer was ascertained from histopathological reports. The Fine-Gray sub-distribution method, with death as a competing risk, was used to determine the impact of LTPA on incident cancer risk.

Results: During the 844,337 person-years of follow-up, 4,435 individuals developed cancer. Compared to inactive adults, individuals engaging in high levels of LTPA (≥ 7.5 MET-h/week) were significantly associated with a reduced risk of developing cancer (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] = 0.93; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.87-0.99). However, those with low levels of LTPA (1-7.49 MET-h/week) did not exhibit a significant association with a reduced risk of developing cancer (aHR = 1.00; 95% CI = 0.92-1.10). When considering specific types of cancers, participants with high levels of LTPA (≥ 7.5 MET-h/week) had a significantly lower risk of developing bladder cancer (aHR = 0.68; 95% CI = 0.47-0.99), cervical cancer (aHR = 0.48; 95% CI = 0.24-0.95), and thyroid cancer (aHR = 0.64; 95% CI = 0.44-0.93).

Conclusions: Our findings suggest that high LTPA (≥ 7.5 MET-h/week) is significantly associated with a low risk of incident bladder, cervical, and thyroid cancers.

Keywords: Cancer; Cohort study; Physical activity; Prevention; Risk; Taiwan.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

**Fig. 1**
Association of leisure time physical activity with the risk of specific cancer types Abbreviations: *LTPA* leisure-time physical activity, *MET* metabolic equivalents of task, *AHR* adjusted hazard ratio, CI confidence interval

See this image and copyright information in PMC

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No. 11201-62-023; 11301-62-007; TPCH-112-38; TPCH-111-42/Department of Health, Taipei City Government

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Association between leisure-time physical activity and incident cancer risk: a nationwide population-based cohort study

Affiliations

Association between leisure-time physical activity and incident cancer risk: a nationwide population-based cohort study

Authors

Affiliations

Abstract

Conflict of interest statement

Figures

References

Grants and funding

LinkOut - more resources

Miscellaneous