1. Objectively Assessed Physical Activity Levels in Spanish Cancer Survivors.
- Author
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Ruiz-Casado, Ana, Verdugo, Ana Soria, Solano, María J. Ortega, Aldazabal, Itziar Pagola, Fiuza-Luces, Carmen, Alejo, Lidia Brea, del Hierro, Julio R. Padilla, Palomo, Isabel, Aguado-Arroyo, Oscar, Garatachea, Nuria, Cebolla, Héctor, and Lucia, Alejandro
- Subjects
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CANCER patients , *FISHER exact test , *RESEARCH methodology , *REGRESSION analysis , *STATISTICAL sampling , *T-test (Statistics) , *BODY mass index , *ACCELEROMETRY , *CONTROL groups , *CROSS-sectional method , *WAIST-hip ratio , *PHYSICAL activity , *WAIST circumference , *DESCRIPTIVE statistics - Abstract
Purpose/Objectives: To objectively assess physical activity (PA) levels in a cohort of Spanish cancer survivors.Design: Descriptive, cross-sectional.Setting: The Hospital Universitario de Fuenlabrada and two healthcare centers in Madrid, Spain.Sample: 204 cancer survivors and 115 adults with no history of cancer.Methods: Participants wore a triaxial accelerometer for seven or more consecutive days to assess PA levels. Body mass index (BMI), indirect indicators of adiposity (waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio), and cardiorespiratory fitness also were determined.Main Research Variables: Light, moderate, vigorous, and total PA (sum of the former).Findings: Most (94%) of the cancer survivors met international recommendations for moderate PA, but very few (3%) fulfilled those (75 minutes or more per week) for vigorous PA. Except for lower total (minute per day, p = 0.048) and vigorous PA levels (p < 0.001 for both minute per day and minute per week) recorded in the cancer survivors group, no between-group differences were detected (p > 0.05). A high percentage of the survivors (33%) were obese (BMI greater than 30 kg/m2), and many also showed poor cardiorespiratory fitness (45% were below the 8 metabolic equivalent threshold).Conclusions: Although cancer survivors overall met international PA recommendations for a healthy lifestyle, their BMI and cardiorespiratory profiles were not within the healthy range.Implications for Nursing: Cancer survivors need to be informed about healthy lifestyle habits and should be regularly monitored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2014
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