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Physical activity, ethnicity, and quality of life among breast cancer survivors and population-based controls: the long-term quality of life follow-up study

  • Epidemiology
  • Published:
Breast Cancer Research and Treatment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

To explore the relationship between physical activity (PA) and quality of life (QOL) among Hispanic and non-Hispanic white breast cancer (BC) cases and population-based controls from the New Mexico ‘Long-Term Quality of Life Study’.

Methods

Self-reported PA (low, moderate, vigorous MET hours/week) at baseline and follow-up interviews (12–15 years) were available for 391 cases and controls and modeled using multiple linear regressions with SF-36 mean composite scores for physical and mental health. The change in PA from baseline to follow-up and interactions with ethnicity were also examined. Models were adjusted for age at diagnosis/baseline interview, education, comorbidities, body mass index, and change in PA.

Results

PA intensities at each timepoint did not differ by case/control status; however, the change in vigorous PA was lower among cases (p = 0.03). At follow-up, low intensity PA increased mental health QOL scores among cases; however, the interaction between low intensity PA and ethnicity was statistically significant among controls indicating decreased mental health among Hispanics (p = 0.02). Change in moderate PA was associated with increased physical and mental health among cases (physical: β = 0.186, p = 0.008; mental: β = 0.225, p = 0.001) and controls (physical: β = 0.220, p < 0.0001; mental: β = 0.193, p = 0.002), when controlling for confounders.

Conclusion

Our results demonstrate that all levels of PA are important for mental health among BC cases, while activities of higher intensity are important for physical health among women overall. The statistical interaction observed between ethnicity and low intensity PA among controls for mental health warrants further research to provide a meaningful interpretation.

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Data availability

The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the Principal Investigator of the study on reasonable request.

Code availability

The code generated and implemented during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Abbreviations

LTQOL:

Long-Term Quality of Life Study

MET:

Metabolic equivalent

NMTR:

New Mexico Tumor Registry

NMWHS:

New Mexico Women’s Health Study

NHW:

Non-Hispanic white

PA:

Physical activity

QOL:

Quality of life

SEER:

Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results

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Funding

This work was supported by the following grants: NIH/NCI, R01-CA55730 The New Mexico Women’s Health Study; NIH/NCI 1 R01-CA105266 Ethnicity, Breast Cancer Recurrence and Long-Term Quality of Life; Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Disparities Epidemiology Research Training Program, Grant KG090926. KD received research support from the National Cancer Institute Cancer Epidemiology, Prevention, and Control Training Program (T32CA009314).

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Author notes

  1. Kathy B. Baumgartner and Avonne E. Connor: joint senior authors.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Office E6133, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Kate E. Dibble & Avonne E. Connor

  2. Department of Epidemiology & Population Health, School of Public Health & Information Sciences, James Graham Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA

    Richard N. Baumgartner, Stephanie D. Boone & Kathy B. Baumgartner

Authors
  1. Kate E. Dibble
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  2. Richard N. Baumgartner
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  3. Stephanie D. Boone
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  4. Kathy B. Baumgartner
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  5. Avonne E. Connor
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Contributions

Material preparation, data analyses, and composition of the manuscript was conducted by KD and was supervised by AC. Study conceptualization, methodology, funding, and data collection was conducted by KB (Principal Investigator), RB, SB, and AC. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Kate E. Dibble.

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The funders had no role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. The authors have no conflicts of interest to report.

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Dibble, K.E., Baumgartner, R.N., Boone, S.D. et al. Physical activity, ethnicity, and quality of life among breast cancer survivors and population-based controls: the long-term quality of life follow-up study. Breast Cancer Res Treat 189, 247–256 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-021-06261-0

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