Physical fitness is typically associated with health benefits, and we generally consider exercise good. Many studies have shown that this relates to cancer, where exercise and maintaining a healthy weight can reduce the risk of developing cancer. Studies have shown that obesity raises the risk of mortality in cancer patients.
Data recently published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine suggests that staying fit could reduce the risk of dying from cancer. The study looked at two different readouts for fitness: muscle strength and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF).
The researchers undertook a comprehensive review and meta-analysis by examining peer-reviewed studies published before August 2023. The analysis included 42 studies encompassing over 46,000 patients.
The results of the study show that cancer patients with the highest muscle mass or CRF experienced a 31 – 46% lower risk of mortality compared to those with the lowest muscle mass or CRF. The same trend occurred even when looking specifically at patients with advanced cancers, who had an 8 – 46% lower risk of mortality if classified to high physical fitness parameters.
The study also evaluated the impact of physical fitness on mortality in cancer patients with different malignancies. They found that lung and digestive cancer survivors benefited most from having high muscle mass or CRF. For these cancers, high muscle mass and CRF led to a 19 – 41% reduced risk of mortality. This suggests that the benefits of physical fitness may be particularly pronounced for certain types of cancer, providing valuable insights for personalized treatment strategies.
The authors conclude that physical fitness, as indicated by muscle strength and CRF, conferred a notably lower risk of death among cancer survivors. In addition to mortality, the study also demonstrated that an increase in CRF correlated to a reduced risk of cancer-specific mortality.
This study equips oncologists with a practical tool for predicting outcomes and underscores the tangible benefits of physical fitness for cancer survivors. The authors suggest that this data could motivate doctors to consider exercise recommendations for patients during or after their treatment, potentially improving patient outcomes and survivorship rates.
Sources: Recent Results Cancer Res, JAMA Netw Open, Br J Sports Med