Objectively measured sedentary behavior and quality of life among survivors of early stage breast cancer

Abstract

Purpose This study examined relationships between sedentary behavior accumulated in different bout durations and quality of life (QoL) among breast cancer survivors. Methods Postmenopausal breast cancer survivors completed the Short Form Health Survey to assess QoL and wore an accelerometer to measure sedentary behavior and physical activity between August 2011 and May 2013. Results Participants (n=134) averaged 509.7 mins/day in sedentary time with 285.2 min/day in short bouts (<20 minutes) and 224.5 min/day long bouts (≥20 minutes). Linear regression models indicated that greater total sedentary time was significantly associated with worse physical QoL (b = −0.70, p=0.02) but not mental QoL (p=0.92). Models that examined the accumulation of sedentary time in short bouts and long bouts together showed that time in long sedentary bouts was significantly related to physical QoL (b = −0.72, p=0.02), while time in short bouts was not (p=0.63). Moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) was a significant effect modifier of the relation between time spent in long sedentary bouts and physical QoL (p=0.028) such that greater time in long bouts was associated with worse physical QoL only among women with lower levels of MVPA. Conclusions Findings indicate that time spent in long sedentary bouts is associated with worse physical QoL among breast cancer survivors who do not engage in high levels of MVPA. Future research should examine reducing sedentary time as a potential strategy to improve physical QoL.

Postdiagnosis sedentary behavior and health outcomes in cancer survivors: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

“…The final review contained 33 original research articles from 29 separate studies. Nine studies addressed mortality, 21-29 16 (19 publications) addressed patientreported outcomes, [30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48] and 5 addressed anthropometric outcomes. [49][50][51][52][53] No studies reported data for sedentary behavior and cancer progression or recurrence.…”

“…32,34,35,37,42,43,46 One prospective study and 3 cross-sectional studies found statistically lower QoL or lower QoL subscores (physical functioning, disability, and general health) in more sedentary survivors. Two prospective studies and 5 cross-sectional studies did not identify associations between sedentary behavior and QoL.…”

“…No mortality studies were judged to have serious ROB. Fourteen of the 19 studies that examined patient-reported outcomes contained a serious ROB because of statistical power and control of confounders, 32,33 cross-sectional design, 30,32,33,35,39,[41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48] or multiple analyses performed on multiple outcomes or subscales. 32,37,38,42 All 5 studies that examined anthropometric outcomes contained serious ROB.…”

“…Sample sizes ranged from 54 to 1966 participants, and specific cancers studied consisted of patients and survivors of breast 31,34,35,37,[39][40][41] colon or colorectal, 36,[45][46][47][48] lung, 30,43 prostate, 32,38 and kidney 42 cancers; non-Hodgkin lymphoma 44 ; and mixed cancers. 33 Sedentary time was assessed by using a device (eg, accelerometer) in 13 publications 30,32,33,35,37,40,41,[43][44][45][46][47][48] and by self-report in 6 publications. 31,34,36,38,39,42 Outcomes included QoL, 30,[32][33][34][35][36][37]42,44,[46][47][48] fatigue,…”

Correlates of light physical activity among cancer survivors

“…Moderate‐to‐vigorous physical activity (MVPA) reduces risk of cancer‐specific mortality, cancer recurrence, and chronic diseases (eg, heart disease and diabetes), while reducing fatigue and improving quality of life among cancer survivors . Furthermore, research has illustrated the deleterious effect of sedentary behavior on cancer survivors . Yet, most cancer survivors fail to regularly adhere to American Cancer Society guidelines for 150 min/wk of MVPA and spend 8‐9 h/d in sedentary activities …”