Objectively Measured Physical Activity and All-Cause Mortality Among Cancer Survivors: National Prospective Cohort Study

Objective: The understanding of the effects of physical activity on allcause mortality among cancer survivors is limited. We attempted to draw a relation between physical activity and survival among those with a diagnosis of cancer. Methods: Data from the 2003-2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey was used, with follow-up through 2011. A total of 515 adult cancer survivors wore an accelerometer for = 4 days. Results: After adjusting for age, sex, race/ethnicity, poverty level, cotinine, C-reactive protein, body mass index, and comorbid illness, participants had a 15% reduced hazard rate (hazard rate 0.85, 95% confidence interval 0.73-0.99, P < 0.001) for every 60-minute/day increase in physical activity. Conclusions: Physical activity may have a protective effect on survival among cancer survivors.