QOL-10. PHYSICAL ACTIVITY LEVELS AND PATTERNS IN SURVIVORS OF CHILDHOOD CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM TUMOURS

Abstract

Abstract BACKGROUND Engaging in regular physical activity (PA) has multiple positive health benefits and for survivors of childhood cancer can additionally result in reduced severity of late-effects. There is a lack of objectively measured PA data in survivors of childhood central nervous system (CNS) tumours. The aims of this study were to objectively measure PA levels and patterns in survivors of childhood CNS tumours and to determine whether survivors were meeting the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended PA guidelines of 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) daily. METHODS Survivors of childhood CNS tumours aged between 6-17 years, between 3 months and 5 years post treatment, were provided with Actigraph GT3X accelerometers to assess their PA patterns over a seven day recording period. RESULTS Twenty-six participants were recruited with a mean age of 12.75 (SD 3.29) years. Participants met the WHO PA guidelines for a mean of 3.18 (SD 2.56) days during the assessment week. Participants spent a mean daily time of 591.77 (SD 146.91) minutes in sedentary behaviour and 129.45 (SD 54.14) minutes in light intensity PA. A significant association was found between PA and age (p<0.001, CI[-8.48, -3.05]), child participants engaged in significantly less sedentary time and significantly more MVPA daily than adolescent participants. No significant differences in PA patterns were identified between participants in early survivorship versus those in late survivorship (≥ 2 years post treatment), (p=0.095 – p=0.513). CONCLUSIONS The majority of survivors of childhood CNS tumours do not meet the WHO recommended daily PA guidelines and lead significantly sedentary lives. PA patterns differed significantly between child and adolescent participants. Further research is required on interventions to support engagement in PA particularly for adolescent survivors of CNS tumours, with a focus on how this can be implemented into clinical practice.