Abstract 439: Physical activity among male cancer survivors during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Abstract Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has greatly disrupted the lives of cancer survivors. Beyond being at increased risk for COVID-19 infection and severe complications, cancer survivors may be at higher risk of other consequential health outcomes compared to those without a history of cancer. Engagement in physical activity has been shown to positively affect cancer survivorship outcomes, and as such, it is important to assess physical activity habits during the pandemic of cancer survivors. Aim: To investigate the individual-level physical activity among male cancer survivors during the COVID-19 pandemic and compare to men without cancer. Methods: Participants of the Health Professionals Follow-up Study, enrolled since 1986, were asked to self-report health behaviors during the pandemic on three web-based questionnaires administered during the COVID-19 pandemic (baseline COVID: October 2020, first follow-up: January 2021, second follow-up: April 2021). Physical activity measures were analyzed descriptively between cancer survivors and individuals without a history of cancer. Outcomes were recoded dichotomously to reflect either: healthful (i.e., higher engagement since pandemic) vs unchanged/unhealthful behavior or high vs low engagement in an activity. Logistic regression models were employed to assess association with cancer survivor status and were adjusted for covariates such as age, race, pre-pandemic BMI, pre-pandemic physical activity, and other health information, as appropriate. Results: Of 4,416 men who completed the baseline COVID-19 questionnaire, 962 were cancer survivors (after excluding those with non-melanoma skin cancer). Of all eligible men (median age: 78 years) reporting on physical activity, over 50% walked for at least 2-3 hours per week, over 10% used a stationary bike for at least 1 hour per week, 14% engaged in yoga for at least 1 hour per week, and nearly 20% engaged in vigorous activity for at least 1 hour per week. Further, 42% engaged in high (1+ times per day) levels of mindfulness and 24% engaged in high (1+ times per day) levels of yoga. Engagement in vigorous physical activity was significantly lower among cancer survivors compared to individuals without a history of cancer (Chi-square p = 0.01). Conclusion: Our findings suggest older men had high engagement in physical activity during the COVID-19 pandemic, with vigorous physical activity engagement significantly lower in cancer survivors. Citation Format: Colleen B. McGrath, Alaina H. Shreves, Konrad Stopsack, Lilian Cheung, Ann Fisher, Sarah Markt, Lorelei A. Mucci. Physical activity among male cancer survivors during the COVID-19 pandemic [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2022; 2022 Apr 8-13. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(12_Suppl):Abstract nr 439.