Abstract 3413: Physical activity and sedentary behavior of cancer survivors compared to individuals without cancer in NHANES
Authors: Pavy Anna Marie , Steck Susan E. 
Published: March 2024

INTRODUCTION: Physical activity may improve quality of life and reduce mortality among cancer survivors. As cancer death rates continue to decrease, the population of cancer survivors is expected to grow, therefore making it important to study their health behaviors. Research has been conducted on prevalence of physical activity and sedentary behaviors of survivors of certain cancers, however, little research has been conducted comparing cancer survivors to individuals without cancer. The purpose of this study was to update previously published results from earlier National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) cycles (2007-2010) with more recent data comparing physical activity and sedentary behavior among cancer survivors and individuals without cancer.

METHODS: Using the NHANES 2011-2018, we identified 1320 cancer survivors and 19,109 participants without cancer who provided data on recreational, work-related, and transportation-related physical activity and sedentary behavior. The included participants were over 20 years of age, not pregnant at the time of the survey, and were more than three years from their cancer diagnosis, if applicable. Comparisons between cancer survivors and individuals without cancer were conducted for duration of total physical activity (min/day) and sedentary time per day. To account for the complex sampling design, weighted multivariable analysis was used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

RESULTS: Compared to individuals without cancer, cancer survivors reported less average ± standard error physical activity minutes per day (190.06 ± 5.24 and 147.29 ± 13.14, respectively), and slightly more sedentary hours per day (6.95 ± 0.09 and 7.56 ± 0.36, respectively). However, after adjusting for age, race and ethnicity, sex, educational status, body mass index, and smoking status, there was no association between physical activity duration or sedentary time and cancer survivor status. The OR (95%CI) for more than 60 minutes per day of physical activity was 1.00 (0.83, 1.20) compared to no physical activity, and for more than 8 hours of sedentary time per day was 1.00 (0.82, 1.21) compared to less than 5 hours per day.

DISCUSSION: In a previous publication of earlier cycles of NHANES (2007-2010), cancer survivors reported higher physical activity but also higher sedentary time per day compared to individuals without cancer. However, these results were not supported in this updated analysis using more recent NHANES cycles (2011-2018). After adjustment for important covariates, we did not find differences between cancer survivors and individuals without cancer in reported physical activity or sedentary time. Further research in other populations is needed to corroborate these findings and document whether they reflect a growing awareness of the negative impact of sedentary behavior in cancer survivorship.

Citation Format: Anna Marie Pavy, Susan E. Steck. Physical activity and sedentary behavior of cancer survivors compared to individuals without cancer in NHANES [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 3413.