Poor Adherence to International Cancer Prevention Recommendations Among Patients With Prostate Cancer: First Results From the MARTINI-Lifestyle Cohort

Abstract

BackgroundPromotion of a healthy lifestyle in patients with prostate cancer (PCa) has gained traction to increase patient investment in his/her health care practices, improve patient quality of life, and improve survival outcomes. ObjectiveTo investigate adherence of patients with PCa to healthy lifestyle recommendations from the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) and the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR). Design, setting, and participantsA total of 2227 men with PCa scheduled for radical prostatectomy in the Martini-Klinik at the University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany between January 2016 and December 2017. Outcome measurements and statistical analysisAge and clinical characteristics were collected at the time of the diagnosis. Assessment of diet and physical activity data were obtained via e-mail surveys using validated questionnaires developed for the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) study [food frequency questionnaire, version 2 (FFQ2), EPIC-Physical Activity Questionnaire (EPIC-PAQ)]. Baseline characteristics were calculated as means and standard deviations for continuous data or counts and percentages for categorical data. Results and limitationsPatients followed 3.3 (±1.5) of the 10 WCRF/AICR recommendations. None of the participants reached all goals; 67.3% of the patients did not fulfill the criteria of a healthy normal weight, 33.5% reported no exercise at all, and 49.6% were characterized as current or ex-smokers. As to nutritional goals, 75.4% did not meet the recommended intake of meat, 88.8% reported a low consumption of fruit and vegetables, and 86% did not achieve the recommended fiber intake. Because these analyses are based on self-reported data of diet and lifestyle, a bias toward underreporting cannot be excluded. ConclusionsFirst results of the MARTINI-Lifestyle cohort show that adherence to the AICR/WCRF recommendations for cancer prevention is poor. Patient summaryPatients with prostate cancer scheduled for surgery do not adhere to cancer prevention guidelines. Thus, improving lifestyle habits may provide significant impact on patient health and quality of life.