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Physical activity and sedentary time: associations with fatigue, pain, and depressive symptoms over 4 years post-treatment among breast cancer survivors

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Abstract

Introduction

Despite the recommendations for cancer survivors to engage in physical activity (PA), little is known about the effects of both PA and sedentary time (ST) on key health symptoms. This study prospectively examined the lifestyle behaviors of moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) and ST as predictors of depressive symptoms, pain, and fatigue in breast cancer survivors using longitudinal data from early post-treatment to 4-year survivorship.

Methods

Breast cancer survivors (n = 199, mean(SD) age = 55.0(11.0) years) self-reported depressive symptoms, pain, and fatigue, and wore an accelerometer to measure MVPA and ST every 3 months during the first year (times 1 to 5) and 2 and 4 years (times 6 and 8) post-cancer treatment. Linear mixed models were adjusted for personal (e.g., age, BMI, education) and cancer (e.g., stage, time since treatment) variables.

Results

MVPA and ST were independent predictors of depressive symptoms, but not fatigue, and only ST was associated with pain over 4 years post-treatment. Higher levels of MVPA were associated with lower scores of depressive symptoms (\(\beta\) (95%CI): − 0.062 (− 0.092, − 0.031) p < .001), whereas higher levels of ST were associated with higher scores of depressive symptoms (\(\beta\) (95%CI): 0.023 (0.017, 0.028) p < .001). Higher levels of ST were associated with increased pain level over time (\(\beta\) (95%CI): 0.017 (0.007, 0.027) p = .001).

Conclusions

Rehabilitation interventions should aim to both increase MVPA and reduce ST to promote health and well-being among breast cancer survivors, in particular during the early post-treatment period.

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Data availability

The data that supports the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author.

Code availability

The R code that supports the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author.

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Funding

This research was supported by a Canadian Institutes of Health Research grant (#186128).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Scool of Komnesiology and Physical Activity Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, 2100, boulevard Édouard-Montpetit, Montreal, Québec, H3T 1J4, Canada

    Isabelle Doré

  2. Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal, (CRCHUM), Montreal, Canada

    Isabelle Doré, Audrey Plante & Nathalie Bedrossian

  3. School of Public Health, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada

    Isabelle Doré, Audrey Plante & Nathalie Bedrossian

  4. Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada

    Serena S. Peck & Catherine M. Sabiston

Authors
  1. Isabelle Doré
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  2. Audrey Plante
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  3. Serena S. Peck
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  4. Nathalie Bedrossian
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  5. Catherine M. Sabiston
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Contributions

ID conceptualized the objectives, conducted all analyses, drafted, and revised the manuscript. CS designed the main study and critically reviewed the manuscript. All authors approved the final manuscript as submitted and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

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Correspondence to Isabelle Doré.

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. Ethical approval was obtained from the University of Toronto (REB# 28180).

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All participants provided written informed consent.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Doré, I., Plante, A., Peck, S.S. et al. Physical activity and sedentary time: associations with fatigue, pain, and depressive symptoms over 4 years post-treatment among breast cancer survivors. Support Care Cancer 30, 785–792 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-021-06469-2

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