Cardiorespiratory fitness levels associated with lower cancer death in men

A study led by the Swedish School of Sports and Health Sciences in Sweden compared cardiorespiratory fitness levels with the risk of the three most common cancers in men.

In a paper entitled “Associations between cardiorespiratory fitness and cancer incidence and cancer-specific colon, lung, and prostate cancer mortality in Swedish men,” JAMA network openThe researchers detail the methods and results of a large cohort study that found that improved cardiopulmonary fitness was associated with a lower risk of colon and lung cancer, but an increased incidence of prostate cancer. there is

The study analyzed 17,709 men with a wide age range of 18 to 75 years (mean age 42 years, mean BMI 26) over a mean follow-up of 9.6 years. Cardiopulmonary fitness (CRF) was assessed as maximal oxygen consumption and estimated using the submaximal cycle ergometer test. This is an exercise that stays below 85% of your maximum predicted heart rate and estimates your VO.₂max, the maximum velocity (V) of oxygen (O₂) reached at maximum heart rate.

A total of 499 colon cancers, 283 lung cancers, and 1,918 prostate cancers occurred during the study period. There were a total of 152 deaths from colon cancer, 207 deaths from lung cancer, and 141 deaths from prostate cancer.

Higher CRF levels were associated with lower risk of developing colon and lung cancer (2%) and higher risk of developing prostate cancer (1%). Higher CRF was also associated with lower risk of dying from colon cancer (2%) and lung cancer (3%). People with higher CRF were shown to have a 5% lower mortality rate from prostate cancer, despite the higher prevalence.

Cancer risk was much lower than the above percentages when observing young nonsmokers with healthy BMI and highest CRF. The main findings were that higher CRF, regardless of age, was associated with lower colon and lung cancer incidence and fewer deaths from colon, lung, and prostate cancer. It means that there is.

In a theoretical calculation of preventive cases, the authors found that avoiding very low CRF levels reduced 4% to 8% of all colon cancer cases, 4% of all lung cancer deaths, and 4% of all deaths from prostate cancer. It states that 19% to 19% can be prevented. cancer.

The authors point out the difference between the often self-reported and subjective behavior of physical activity and an objective measure of physiological body responses called cardiopulmonary function. High-intensity physical activity may have an even greater impact on her CRF, which may better protect against developing certain cancers and the risk of dying from cancer.