Consistently high levels of physical activity linked to reduced risk of death from colon cancer
MONDAY, Jan. 10 (HealthDay News) -- People who participate in long-term physical activity have a decreased risk of death from colon cancer, according to a study published in the December issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.
Kathleen Y. Wolin, Sc.D, from the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, and colleagues evaluated 10- and 15-year changes in physical activity with both incidence of colon cancer and death from colon cancer. For the 10-year analysis, they examined 1,863 incidents and 826 fatalities, and for the 15-year analysis, they studied 1,386 incidents of colon cancer and 602 fatalities.
The researchers found that neither the 10-year nor the 15-year changes in physical activities were associated with incidence of colon cancer, and that the 15-year change was not linked to colon cancer mortality. They found that a consistent, high level of physical activity over 10 years was associated with a lower risk of colon cancer mortality compared with consistently minimal activity. They found that over 15 years, those patients with above average levels of physical activity showed half the risk of colon cancer death compared with those with consistently below average levels.
"Consistently high physical activity levels were associated with a reduced risk of colon cancer mortality as compared with consistently low levels of activity," the authors write.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)