Associations of Objectively Assessed Physical Activity and Sedentary Time With Health-Related Quality of Life Among Colon Cancer Survivors

BACKGROUND: The primary purpose of this study was to determine associations of accelerometer-assessed moderate-to vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA) and sedentary time with health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and physical function and well-being in colon cancer survivors. METHODS: Colon cancer survivors (N=178) from Alberta, Canada (n=92) and Western Australia (n=86) completed a mailed survey that assessed HRQoL (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Colorectal), physical function and wellbeing (Trial Outcome Index-Colorectal), and relevant covariates. MVPA and sedentary time were assessed using the Actigraph GT3X+ accelerometer (60-second epochs) via a 7-day monitoring protocol. Average daily MVPA and sedentary time was corrected for wear time and then examined as quartiles. RESULTS: Adjusting for relevant demographic, behavioral, and clinical covariates, a significant difference in HRQoL scores emerged between quartile 1 (Q1) and Q4 (M-diff=11.5, P=.038). For physical function and wellbeing, a significant difference emerged between Q1 and Q4 (M-diff=9.1, P=.009). For fatigue, a significant difference emerged between Q1 and Q4 (M-diff=7.1, P=.05). Significant differences were also observed for between Q1 and Q3 (M-diff=2.4, P=.041), and Q1 and Q4 (M-diff=3.5, P=.002) for colorectal cancer-specific symptoms. There were no statistically significant associations of sedentary time with HRQoL, physical function and well-being, fatigue, or colorectal cancer-specific symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Objectively measured MVPA, but not sedentary time, was associated with better HRQoL, physical function and well-being, and colorectal cancer-specific symptoms in colon cancer survivors. For MVPA, differences met or exceeded contemporary cutpoints for determining clinically important differences. (C) 2014 American Cancer Society.