Physical Activity Is Not Protective Against Prostate Cancer Mortality In Puerto Rican Men

Abstract

PURPOSE To study the effect of physical activity on prostrate cancer mortality among Puerto Rican men. METHODS This study uses an observational cohort study of randomly selected sample of 9,824 men aged 35–79 years at baseline (1964) who were part of the Puerto Rico Heart Health Program with follow up until 2002. The participants took part in multiple examinations including extensive information on lifestyle, diet, body composition, exercise, and smoking habits. The relationship between prostrate cancer mortality and physical activity status assessed using Framingham Physical activity Index which assesses occupational, leisure-time and other physical activities measured as usual activity over the course of a 24-hour day. The number of hours at each activity was converted to an index of usual daily energy expenditure, ranging between 24 and 71, and by grading activities into different categories using MET values. Physical activity was stratified into quartiles. Quartile 1 included those as doing nothing or very slight activities as sitting, and quartile 4 were the most physically active. Prostate cancer mortality was ascertained using death certificate information. RESULTS We found 88 prostate cancer mortality cases. The age adjusted estimates for prostate cancer mortality of each quartile of physical activity, taking Q1 as reference category, were Q2 OR = 1.23, CI 95% 0.65 -2.33; Q3 OR = 1.31, CI 95% 0.73 – 2.37; and Q4 OR = 1.30, CI 95% 0.62 – 2.08. Thus, physical activity was not a predictor of prostate cancer mortality in this group of Puerto Rican men. Conclusion Our finding support that physical activity is not protective against prostrate cancer mortality in this longitudinal study of Puerto Rican men.