Research has shown that exercise reduces the risk of various diseases, including heart disease and diabetes. More and more studies are showing us the many benefits of exercise, from improving mood and blood pressure to improving cardiorespiratory fitness. Recently, researchers have wanted to understand how exercise affects cancer progression. Previous research reveals that physical activity can help reduce the risk of cancer-related mortality. Nevertheless, more conclusive evidence is needed on the role that physical activity may play in disease progression. Let’s look at the study.
The study
In a recent study published in the British Journal of Sports MedicineThe researchers analyzed data from the Discovery Health Medical Scheme or DHMS, which is South Africa’s largest open medical plan associated with the Vitality health promotion program. 28,248 members of the Vitalité health promotion program with stage I cancer were included in the study, spanning from 2007 to 2022. 44% of the study total involved breast and breast cancers. the prostate. The time from first cancer diagnosis to disease progression, mortality, or study withdrawal ranged from 1 month to almost 13 years.
All participants were rewarded for their healthy lifestyle habits and scored points for gym attendance, participation in organized fitness activities and for physical activity recorded by fitness trackers. Participants recorded activity type, duration, frequency, and intensity.
The results of the study
The researchers took into account factors such as age at diagnosis, economic and social position, gender and coexisting conditions. They concluded that:
- Rates of all-cause mortality and cancer progression were 16% lower for those who engaged in low levels of physical activity in the year before their diagnosis, compared to participants who logged no physical activity .
- The risk among participants who engaged at moderate to high levels was 27% lower.
- Overall, the risk of all-cause mortality was 33% lower among those who participated in low levels of physical activity and 47% lower among those who stuck to moderate to moderate levels of exercise. students.
- The likelihood of disease progression increased over time for all participants. However, it was lower among those who had recorded some type of physical activity in the year before their diagnosis.
Progression of cancer and disease over time
After three years, the probability of no disease progression was:
- 71% for those who did not practice any physical activity.
- 75% for those who practiced low levels of physical activity.
- 78% for those who engaged in moderate to high levels of physical activity.
Final Thoughts
It should be kept in mind that this study is observational in nature and the researchers were not able to take into account factors such as alcohol consumption and smoking. This research adds to other studies that highlight the cancer benefits of exercise. It’s clear that even for people dealing with complex illnesses like cancer, some level of physical activity is beneficial. This study shows that exercising in the year before diagnosis could be linked to a lower risk of mortality and cancer progression by up to 27%. Even lower levels of physical activity are worth it.
