Lifetime Total Physical Activity Research Articles

High late‐life physical activities and reduced progression from MCI to Alzheimer’s dementia

AbstractBackgroundPhysical activity (PA) has been reported to reduce the risk of Alzheimer`s disease (AD) dementia and related cognitive decline. We aimed to investigate the influence of PA on the progression from cognitively normal (CN) status to mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or from MCI to AD dementia in non‐demented older adults.MethodThis study included 194 non‐demented (148 CN and 46 MCI) participants from the Korean Brain Aging Study for Early diagnosis and prediction of Alzheimer’s disease (KBASE), who completed both baseline and 2‐year follow‐up clinical evaluation. At baseline, the participants underwent comprehensive clinical and neuropsychological assessment, multimodal brain imaging including [11C] Pittsburgh Compound B positron emission tomography (PET), [18F] fluorodeoxyglucose PET and MRI, and current PA measured using the Lifetime Total Physical Activity Questionnaire.ResultAfter 2 years, five CN and 22 MCI participants progressed to MCI and AD dementia, respectively. Logistic regression analyses showed that high current PA (above the median value) reduced the risk of the progression from MCI to AD dementia even after controlling age, sex, education, apolipoprotein E e4 positivity, baseline brain amyloid deposition, AD‐signature region glucose metabolism, and AD‐signature region cortical thickness (Bonferroni corrected p‐value = 0.028). In contrast, PA had no effect on the progression from CN to MCI.ConclusionThe findings suggest that a physically active lifestyle in late‐life reduces the risk of conversion to AD dementia in MCI independently of AD‐related brain pathologies.

Lifetime occupational and recreational physical activity and risk of lymphoma subtypes. Results from the European Epilymph case-control study

Physical activity is known to convey protection against several cancers. However, results on the risk of lymphoma overall and its subtypes have been inconsistent. The aim of this study was to investigate occupational and recreational physical activity in relation to risk of lymphoma subtypes adjusting for established occupational risk factors. We applied standardized tools to assess energy expenditure at work and in recreational physical activities to the questionnaire information on lifetime work and exercise history in 1117 lymphoma cases, including Hodgkin lymphoma, and B-cell (including chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and multiple myeloma) and T-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) subtypes, and 1207 controls who took part in the multicentre European EpiLymph case-control study. We calculated the risk of lymphoma (all subtypes), B-cell NHL and its most represented subtypes, and Hodgkin’s lymphoma (all subtypes) associated with weekly average Metabolic Equivalent of Task (MET-hours/week) and cumulative MET-hours of lifetime recreational, occupational, and total physical activity, with unconditional logistic regression and polytomous regression analysis adjusting by age, centre, sex, education, body mass index, history of farm work and solvent use. We observed an inverse association of occupational, and total physical activity with risk of lymphoma (all subtypes), and B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma among women, and an upward trend in risk of Hodgkin’s lymphoma with recreational and total physical activity among men, for which we cannot exclude chance or bias. Our results suggest no effect of overall physical activity on risk of lymphoma and its subtypes.

Translation, Cross-Cultural Adaptation, and Validation of the Persian Version of the Lifetime Total Physical Activity Questionnaire.

This study aimed to translate and cross-culturally adapt the Lifetime Total Physical Activity Questionnaire (LTPAQ) for use in Persian-speaking countries as well as evaluate its validity and reliability. There were 3 stages to this study. First, a forward-backward translation method was used to develop a Persian version of the LTPAQ. In the second stage, the Persian version of the LTPAQ was evaluated for its face validity and content validity. Finally, test-retest reliability and known-group validity were assessed. The LTPAQ has occupational and volunteer activities, including travel to work, exercise and sports, and household activities. Frequency, duration, and estimated metabolic costs of activities with light, moderate, and heavy intensities were used to calculate the metabolic equivalent of each domain during life (in metabolic equivalent-hour/week). Metabolic equivalents of each domain and in total were used to evaluate the reliability and validity of the questionnaire. In total, 60 people (41.7% females) with a mean age of 33.9 (SD = 11.5) years participated in this study. All domains showed excellent test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient > .9). All items had content validity indexes higher than 0.85. In addition, males had significantly higher physical activity levels than females (P = .022), indicating the known-group validity of the questionnaire. The LTPAQ was translated into Persian and trans-culturally adapted. This study indicates that the Persian version of the LTPAQ has adequate reliability and validity and can be utilized in future studies to assess physical activity in the Persian population.

Midlife and current physical activity is associated with functional brain connectivity in older age

AbstractBackgroundPrevious studies have shown a physically active lifestyle in both midlife and later life to benefit cognition and brain health in older age. However, exploring the influence of physical activity engagement on functional brain connectivity is needed to fully understand the neural mechanism underlying the effect of physical engagement. Additionally, in order to give lifestyle advice to different age groups, it is important to understand the unique contributions of physical activity at different life stages, which has rarely been examined.MethodThe current study investigated the effect of self‐reported midlife and current physical activity engagement on functional connectivity among 105 cognitively high functioning older adults (age = 66.6±4.1). Self‐reported midlife and current moderate‐to‐vigorous physical activity (MVPA) were recorded using the Lifetime Total Physical Activity Questionnaire. We included covariates in all analyses (i.e., age, sex, years of education, socioeconomic status, genetic risk of Alzheimer’s disease (i.e., APOE ε4 carrier status). Five regions of interest (ROIs) were selected based on previous literature on the relationship between exercise and brain health which included: prefrontal (i.e., bilateral superior frontal, middle frontal, and pars opercularis of the inferior frontal gyrus), and bilateral hippocampus.ResultResults showed that people who were active in midlife had greater functional connectivity between middle frontal gyrus and superior parietal region, postcentral gyrus (Voxel p<0.005, Cluster p<0.05 FDR corrected; figure 1a) than people who were relatively inactive in midlife. This effect stayed the same after controlling for current MVPA time. Secondly, the results showed that people who were active currently have greater functional connectivity between hippocampus and frontal pole (Voxel p<0.005, Cluster p<0.05 FDR corrected; figure 1b). Currently active participants also showed greater functional connectivity between pars triangularis of the inferior frontal gyrus, and bilateral middle temporal region, and frontal pole (Voxel p<0.001, Cluster p<0.05 FDR corrected; figure1c) compared to currently inactive participants, which stayed consistent after controlling for midlife MVPA time.ConclusionAs a conclusion, although midlife and current MVPA time were positively associated with each other, they both influence brain functional connectivity in later life independently. The results emphasize the importance of keeping a physically active lifestyle across midlife and into later life.

Late-Life Physical Activities Moderate the Relationship of Amyloid-β Pathology with Neurodegeneration in Individuals Without Dementia.

Physical activities (PA) have been suggested to reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia. However, information on the neuropathological links underlying the relationship is limited. We investigated the role of midlife and late-life PA with in vivo AD neuropathologies in old adults without dementia. This study included participants from the Korean Brain Aging Study for Early Diagnosis and Prediction of Alzheimer's disease (KBASE). The participants underwent comprehensive clinical and neuropsychological assessment, [11C] Pittsburgh Compound B positron emission tomography (PET), [18F] fluorodeoxyglucose PET, and magnetic resonance imaging. Using the multi-modal brain imaging data, in vivo AD pathologies including global amyloid deposition, AD-signature region cerebral glucose metabolism (AD-CM), and AD-signature region cortical thickness (AD-CT) were quantified. Both midlife and late-life PA of participants were measured using the Lifetime Total Physical Activity Questionnaire. This study was performed on 260 participants without dementia (195 with normal cognitive function and 65 with mild cognitive impairment). PA of neither midlife nor late-life showed direct correspondence with any neuroimaging biomarker. However, late-life PA moderated the relationship of brain amyloid-β (Aβ) deposition with AD-CM and AD-CT. Aβ positivity had a significant negative effect on both AD-CM and AD-CT in individuals with lower late-life PA, but those with higher late-life PA did not show such results. Midlife PA did not have such a moderation effect. The findings suggest that physically active lifestyle in late-life, rather than that in midlife, may delay AD-associated cognitive decline by decreasing Aβ-induced neurodegenerative changes in old adults.

Periodontal disease as a risk factor for sporadic colorectal cancer: results from COLDENT study

Colorectal cancer remains the top leading cancer worldwide. Accumulating evidence suggests periodontal pathogens are involved in colorectal carcinogenesis, indicating the need for high-quality epidemiological evidence linking periodontal disease (PD) and colorectal cancer (CRC). Thus, we conducted the first population-based case–control study that was specifically designed to investigate the association between compromised oral health and sporadic CRC. A total of 348 incident cases of colon or rectal cancer, and 310 age and sex frequency-matched controls, from the Montreal island and Laval population participated in the study. Data were collected on PD and on several CRC risk factors using validated questionnaires. A life-course approach was used to document long-term history regarding lifestyle factors. Multivariable unconditional logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the rate ratio (RR) quantifying the association between CRC and PD. Results showed that the rate of new diagnosis of CRC in persons with a positive history of PD was 1.45 times higher than in those with a negative history of PD adjusting for age, sex, BMI, education, income, diabetes, family history of CRC, regular use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, lifetime cumulative smoking, lifetime consumption of red meats, processed meats, and alcoholic drinks, and lifetime total physical activity score (adjusted RR = 1.45; 95% CI 1.04–2.01; p = 0.026). Our results support the hypothesis of an association between PD and sporadic CRC risk.

Transportation physical activity earlier in life and areas of the brain related to dementia later in life

Efforts to preserve brain function may be most effective when administered before there are changes in the brain, which may occur decades before the onset of Alzheimer's disease symptoms. White matter hyperintensities (WMH), a cardiovascular disease biomarker, are areas of hyperintense signals scattered in the white matter of the brain evident on magnetic resonance images. WMH increase with age and are associated with a higher risk of dementia. The purpose of this study was to determine if there was an association between different domains and intensities of physical activity earlier in life and lower risk of dementia later in life as indicated by less WMH. In this cross-sectional study, face-to-face interviews were conducted with the Lifetime Total Physical Activity Questionnaire. The metabolic equivalent of task (MET) hours/week/year of moderate (3.0-5.9 METs) and vigorous-intensity (≥6 METs) occupation, transportation, household and leisure-time physical activity was obtained across school-age (6-11), adolescence (12-18), young (19-39) and middle adulthood (40-64). WMH were calculated as the percent of intracranial volume in cognitively unimpaired middle (age 40-64) and older adults (age 65+). Simultaneous multiple linear regression determined associations between moderate and vigorous-intensity occupation, transportation, household and leisure-time physical activity across school-age, adolescence, young and middle adulthood with WMH. Greater moderate-intensity transportation physical activity during young (b= -.09, p=.008) and middle adulthood (b= -.14, p=.013) was associated with lower WMH in middle and older adulthood, explaining 28% (p=.003) to 29% (p=.002) of the variance in WMH (n=54). Changes to the physical environment that encourage walking, running or biking, such as sidewalks and bike paths, may be strategies to mitigate the age-related increases in WMH, areas of the brain associated with higher risk of dementia.

Prospective Cohort Study of Pre- and Postdiagnosis Physical Activity and Endometrial Cancer Survival.

PURPOSEThe aim of this study was to evaluate associations between pre- and postdiagnosis physical activity and survival in survivors of endometrial cancer by physical activity domain, intensity, dose (metabolic-equivalent task [MET]-hours/week/year), and change from pre- to postdiagnosis.METHODSWe conducted a prospective cohort study in Alberta, Canada, of 425 women who were diagnosed with histologically confirmed invasive endometrial cancer between 2002 and 2006 and observed to 2019. The interviewer-administered Lifetime Total Physical Activity Questionnaire recorded prediagnosis (assessed at a median of 4.4 months after diagnosis) and postdiagnosis physical activity (assessed at a median of 3.4 years after diagnosis). Associations between physical activity and overall and disease-free survival were assessed using Cox proportional hazards models adjusted for age, stage, grade, treatments, body mass index, menopausal status, hormone therapy use, family history of cancer, and comorbidities.RESULTSAfter a median follow-up of 14.5 years, there were 60 deaths, including 18 endometrial cancer deaths, and 80 disease-free survival events. Higher prediagnosis recreational physical activity was statistically significantly associated with improved disease-free survival (> 14 v ≤ 8 MET-hours/week/year; hazard ratio [HR], 0.54; 95% CI, 0.30 to 0.96; Ptrend = .04), but not overall survival (HR, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.29 to 1.07; Ptrend = .06). Higher postdiagnosis recreational physical activity (> 13 v ≤ 5 MET-hours/week/year) was strongly associated with both improved disease-free survival (HR, 0.33; 95% CI, 0.17 to 0.64; Ptrend = .001) and overall survival (HR, 0.33; 95% CI, 0.15 to 0.75; Ptrend = .007). Participants who maintained high recreational physical activity levels from pre- to postdiagnosis also had improved disease-free survival (HR, 0.35; 95% CI, 0.18 to 0.69) and overall survival (HR, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.20 to 0.94) compared with those who maintained low physical activity levels.CONCLUSIONRecreational physical activity, especially postdiagnosis, is associated with improved survival in survivors of endometrial cancer.

Impact Versus Resistance Training For Bone In Young Women: Preliminary Findings Of The OPTIMA-Ex Trial

PURPOSE: The OPTIMA-Ex (Osteoporosis Prevention Through Impact and Muscle-loading Approaches to Exercise) trial aims to compare bone responses to two known osteogenic stimuli - impact exercise and resistance training in young women with lower than average bone mass. METHODS: The trial is a three-arm, single-blind, single-centre, randomised controlled exercise intervention targeting healthy but sedentary women aged 18-30 years with lower than average bone mass (T-score ≤ 0). Participants were randomised to a 10 month, twice-weekly, either supervised high intensity impact training (IT), high intensity resistance training (RT) or home-based low intensity exercise (active control) (CON). Preliminary DXA (Medix DR) outcomes for lumbar spine (LS), dominant (D) and non-dominant (ND) femoral neck (FN); D and ND distal 1/3 radius (RAD) areal bone mineral density (aBMD) have been examined per-protocol, using repeated-measures ANCOVA adjusted for compliance, age, height, weight, total lifetime physical activity, dietary calcium and baseline values. DXA results are reported as mean difference ± SE, statistical significance set at p ≤ 0.05. RESULTS: A total of 51 women (age=22.2±3.6 years; height=1.64±0.62 m; weight=58.1±8.7 kg) have been randomised (IT=17, RT=17, CON=17) with no between-group differences at baseline. Follow-up data is available for 22 participants (IT=6, RT=8, CON=8). Compliance currently differs between groups (IT=66.5±17.2%, RT=67.3±12.3%, CON=87.5±13.7%; p=0.011). There are no between-group differences in aBMD at any site. However, there are significant within-group differences in our primary outcome of LS aBMD for both IT (0.046±0.020 g/cm2; p=0.044) and RT (0.049±0.018 g/cm2; p=0.019). Additional within-group differences are present for ND FN (0.031±0.012 g/cm2; p=0.027) and ND RAD (0.047±0.020 g/cm2; p=0.036) aBMD for RT. A significant within-group difference is evident for ND (0.057±0.023 g/cm2; p=0.027) and D (0.061±0.024 g/cm2; p=0.029) RAD aBMD for CON. CONCLUSIONS: Although minimal statistical power limits the conclusions that can be drawn from these preliminary data, results indicate both RT and IT improve spine bone mass, while RT may provide a broader osteogenic stimulus in young adult women with lower than average bone mass. Data collection is ongoing.

Validation of the Lifetime Total Physical Activity Questionnaire (LTPAQ) in midlife and older adults with a history of late-onset depression

Validation of the Lifetime Total Physical Activity Questionnaire (LTPAQ) in midlife and older adults with a history of late-onset depression

LIFETIME PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IS ASSOCIATED WITH CSF AMYLOID IN COGNITIVELY ASYMPTOMATIC APOE ɛ4+ ADULTS

Research has shown that the association between leisure-time physical activity and amyloid deposition in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) did not differ between APOE ɛ4+ and ɛ4- adults (Head et al., 2012). However, additional domains of physical activity have not been investigated, nor has a lifetime measure of physical activity been used. The purpose of this study was to determine if a lifetime of occupation, transportation, household and leisure-time physical activity was associated with amyloid deposition in cognitively asymptomatic APOE ɛ4+ adults. Cognitively asymptomatic APOE ɛ4+ (N=18, age 51–72 years, mean = 62.7, SD = 6.6, 67% female) and APOE ɛ4- adults (N=35, age 48–72 years, mean = 62.7, SD = 6.4, 77% female) from the Wisconsin Registry for Alzheimer's Prevention and the Wisconsin Alzheimer's Disease Research Center completed the Lifetime Total Physical Activity Questionnaire during face-to-face interviews which estimated the average metabolic equivalent hours per week per year of occupation, transportation, household, leisure-time and total (all domains combined) physical activity. Participants also underwent lumbar puncture to acquire CSF which was assayed for amyloid (Aβ42), total tau (T-Tau), and phosphorylated tau (P-Tau181) using commercially available ELISA methods (INNOTEST assays, Fujiurebio, Ghent, Belgium). Correlations were performed between the multiple domains of physical activity and CSF biomarkers, controlling for age and sex. A lifetime of more total physical activity was associated with higher CSF Aβ42 concentration (r = .615, p = .011) in cognitively asymptomatic APOE ɛ4+ but not APOE ɛ4- adults (see figure). None of the individual physical activity domains were associated with any of the CSF biomarkers in APOE ɛ4+ or APOE ɛ4- adults.

Relationship between physical activity and hip pain in persons with and without cam or pincer morphology: a population-based case-control study.

The purpose of the study was to determine if physical activity (PA) is a risk factor for persistent or recurrent hip pain in young and middle-aged persons with and without radiographic findings of cam or pincer morphology (CPM). A population sample of persons aged 20-49 with (cases) and without (controls) hip pain in Metro Vancouver, Canada, was selected through random digit dialing (RDD). Self-reported PA was expressed as average energy expenditure (MET-hours) per year, over lifetime. CPM was defined as alpha angle >55°, lateral centre edge angle (LCE) >40°, or positive cross-over sign. Data were obtained for 500 subjects, 269 cases and 231 controls. Prevalence of radiographic CPM was 49% in the cases and 44% in the controls. In a logistic regression model adjusted for age, gender and CPM, total lifetime PA, including occupational, domestic and recreational activities, was significantly associated with hip pain (Odds ratio (OR) 1.30 per 1000 MET-hours, 95% CI 1.15-1.38). The effect of total PA was observed in those with CPM (1.44, 1.17-1.78) and without CPM (1.23, 1.04-1.45). For domestic activities, the association was seen only in those with CPM (significant interaction). When PA was categorized into quartiles, higher levels of PA were associated with a greater risk of pain. PA, as measured by average energy expenditure over lifetime is a risk factor for hip pain in young and middle-aged persons. For some activities, the risk is likely increased in persons with radiographic evidence of CPM.

Relationships between physical activity across lifetime and health outcomes in older adults: Results from the NuAge cohort

This study aims to (1) describe participation in four physical activity (PA) domains across life and (2) examine the influence of PA during adolescence, early, middle, and later adulthood on health variables at older age.This observational study was conducted in 1378 generally healthy older adults (age 67–84 at baseline in 2003–2005; 52% women) in Quebec, Canada. Using a modified version of the interviewer-administered Lifetime Total Physical Activity Questionnaire (LTPAQ) and life events calendar to facilitate the recall, participants reported the frequency, duration, and intensity of occupational (OPA), commuting (CPA), household (HPA), and leisure time (LTPA) they participated in at age 15, 25, 45, and 65, and at the first follow-up (age 68–85 in 2005–2006). Fat mass, lean body mass, body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio, fasting glucose, systolic and diastolic blood pressures, self-reported chronic diseases, and socio-demographic data were assessed at baseline.Changes in PA over time differed by sex in each domain. However, there was a general decline in all PA domains in both sexes after age 65. In multiple regression analyses, LTPA at first-follow-up was associated with more favourable waist-to-hip ratio in both sexes, fat mass in women and fat mass percentage in men, whereas CPA, OPA, and HPA across life were not consistently associated with health variables.Older adults' LTPA at first follow-up was related to health variables, but PA recalled during adolescence, early adulthood, and mid-life was not. Results support the idea that current PA is positively related to better health outcomes.

Association between Lifetime Physical Activity and Cognitive Functioning in Middle-Aged and Older Community Dwelling Adults: Results from the Brain in Motion Study.

To determine if total lifetime physical activity (PA) is associated with better cognitive functioning with aging and if cerebrovascular function mediates this association. A sample of 226 (52.2% female) community dwelling middle-aged and older adults (66.5 ± 6.4 years) in the Brain in Motion Study, completed the Lifetime Total Physical Activity Questionnaire and underwent neuropsychological and cerebrovascular blood flow testing. Multiple robust linear regressions were used to model the associations between lifetime PA and global cognition after adjusting for age, sex, North American Adult Reading Test results (i.e., an estimate of premorbid intellectual ability), maximal aerobic capacity, body mass index and interactions between age, sex, and lifetime PA. Mediation analysis assessed the effect of cerebrovascular measures on the association between lifetime PA and global cognition. Post hoc analyses assessed past year PA and current fitness levels relation to global cognition and cerebrovascular measures. Better global cognitive performance was associated with higher lifetime PA (p=.045), recreational PA (p=.021), and vigorous intensity PA (p=.004), PA between the ages of 0 and 20 years (p=.036), and between the ages of 21 and 35 years (p.5), but partially mediated the relation between current fitness and global cognition. This study revealed significant associations between higher levels of PA (i.e., total lifetime, recreational, vigorous PA, and past year) and better cognitive function in later life. Current fitness levels relation to cognitive function may be partially mediated through current cerebrovascular function.

Lifetime physical activity in postmenopausal Caucasian and Chinese–Canadian women

Physical activity is recognized as a modifiable lifestyle risk factor that may prevent breast cancer. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to compare the physical activity patterns in two populations with different risks for breast cancer. We collected physical activity information from two groups of postmenopausal Canadian women with substantially different risks of developing breast cancer - Caucasians (N=372) and recent Chinese migrants from urban China (N=352). The frequency, duration, and intensity of occupational, household, and recreational activities were measured throughout the lifetime using the interviewer-administered Lifetime Total Physical Activity Questionnaire. Compared with Caucasians, Chinese migrants reported lower average total physical activity over their lifetime and for each age period (0-21, 21-29, 30-39, 40-49, and ≥ 50 years). Compared with Caucasians, Chinese migrants reported greater lifetime occupational activity, but lower levels of lifetime activity for both household and recreation activity. Among Chinese migrants, reported levels of occupational, household, and recreational activities were all greater in migrants from Mainland China than in migrants from Hong Kong. In conclusion, our results show that total activity was greater amongst Caucasians than Chinese migrants, suggesting that the lower breast cancer risk in urban Chinese women is not likely to be explained by greater total physical activity.

Dietary Fat and Physical Activity in Relation to Breast Cancer among Polish Women

Dietary fat has been inconsistently associated with the risk of breast cancer. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between meat and animal and plant fat intake and breast cancer risk in subgroups by total lifetime physical activity, using data from a case-control study conducted in the Region of Western Pomerania, Poland. The study included 858 women with histological confirmed breast cancer and 1,085 controls, free of any cancer diagnosis. The study was based on a self-administered questionnaire including questions about socio-demographic characteristics, current weight and height, reproductive factors, family history of breast cancer and lifestyle habits. Unconditional logistic regression was performed to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). High animal fat intake significantly increased OR from 1.7 times (OR=1.66, 95%CI=1.07-3.59) to 2.9 times (OR=2.9, 95%CI=1.37- 6.14) independent of physical activity level, comparing the third versus the lowest quartile. Women with a high intake of red meat or processed meat and low physical activity showed increased risk of breast cancer: OR=2.70, 95%CI=1.21-6.03 and 1.78, 95%CI=1.04-3.59, respectively. The plant fat dietary pattern was negatively associated with breast cancer in sedentary women (OR=0.57, 95%CI=0.32-0.99). These results indicated that a diet characterized by a high consumption of animal fat is associated with a higher breast cancer risk in sedentary women, while consumption of plant fat products may reduce risk in the same group.

A case–control study of lifetime occupational sitting and likelihood of breast cancer

Sedentary behavior may be a unique risk factor for some cancers, including breast cancer. The objective of this study was to determine the association between lifetime occupational sitting and likelihood of breast cancer. A case-control study of 2,452 women was conducted in Alberta, Canada, between 1995 and 1997. A comprehensive measure of lifetime physical activity assessed frequency and duration of sedentary jobs. Logistic regression estimated the odds of being diagnosed with breast cancer across quartiles of lifetime occupational sitting, by menopausal status and family history of breast cancer, and within body mass index categories and physical activity quartiles. There was no association between occupational sitting and breast cancer among pre-menopausal women and women with a family history of breast cancer. Unexpectedly, higher amounts of occupational sitting were associated with lower odds of breast cancer in post-menopausal women (top versus bottom categories of occupational sitting OR = 0.71, 95 % CI 0.52, 0.97), women without a family history of breast cancer (OR = 0.77, 95 % CI 0.60, 1.00), and women in the third highest quartile of total lifetime physical activity (OR = 0.57, 95 % CI 0.33, 0.97). Occupational sitting levels were lower than would be expected in a contemporary study. Exposures may have been insufficient to make a determinable contribution to breast cancer risk.

Reliability and validity of an internet-based questionnaire measuring lifetime physical activity.

Lifetime exposure to physical activity is an important construct for evaluating associations between physical activity and disease outcomes, given the long induction periods in many chronic diseases. The authors' objective in this study was to evaluate the measurement properties of the Lifetime Physical Activity Questionnaire (L-PAQ), a novel Internet-based, self-administered instrument measuring lifetime physical activity, among Canadian men and women in 2005–2006. Reliability was examined using a test-retest study. Validity was examined in a 2-part study consisting of 1) comparisons with previously validated instruments measuring similar constructs, the Lifetime Total Physical Activity Questionnaire (LT-PAQ) and the Chasan-Taber Physical Activity Questionnaire (CT-PAQ), and 2) a priori hypothesis tests of constructs measured by the L-PAQ. The L-PAQ demonstrated good reliability, with intraclass correlation coefficients ranging from 0.67 (household activity) to 0.89 (sports/recreation). Comparison between the L-PAQ and the LT-PAQ resulted in Spearman correlation coefficients ranging from 0.41 (total activity) to 0.71 (household activity); comparison between the L-PAQ and the CT-PAQ yielded coefficients of 0.58 (sports/recreation), 0.56 (household activity), and 0.50 (total activity). L-PAQ validity was further supported by observed relations between the L-PAQ and sociodemographic variables, consistent with a priori hypotheses. Overall, the L-PAQ is a useful instrument for assessing multiple domains of lifetime physical activity with acceptable reliability and validity.

Physical activity and quality of life after radical prostatectomy.

There are significant post-surgical reductions in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in prostate cancer (PCa) patients undergoing radical prostatectomy (RP). Physical activity (PA) interventions have improved treatment outcomes for PCa patients undergoing radiation and hormone therapy, but PA effects have not previously been examined in the RP setting. This study examined the relationship between preoperative PA levels and postoperative HRQOL outcomes in PCa patients treated with RP. Sixty patients were interviewed regarding lifetime PA and completed preoperative (2 weeks prior to surgery) and postoperative (4 weeks after surgery) HRQOL questionnaires. Aerobic fitness testing was conducted on a subsample of 22 patients. Higher levels of total past-year PA and occupational PA significantly correlated with lesser HRQOL declines from presurgery to 4 weeks post-surgery (Beta = -0.364, p = 0.037 and Beta = -0.243, p = 0.089, respectively) in models adjusted for age, postoperative questionnaire completion date, Gleason score and education. Past-year occupational PA was highly positively correlated with past-year total PA (r = 0.785, p < 0.001). Lifetime total PA was correlated with estimated VO(2) max (r = 0.486, p = 0.026) in the 22 patients who were aerobically tested. Lifetime and past-year PA volumes were not correlated with waist circumference or body mass index. Declines in HRQOL after RP may be reduced in patients with higher preoperative levels of self-reported PA. These findings require further study with larger samples to confirm results. If confirmed, findings suggest exercise preoperatively may improve HRQOL outcomes after RP.

Case–control study of lifetime total physical activity and endometrial cancer risk

A population-based case–control study of physical activity and endometrial cancer risk was conducted in Alberta between 2002 and 2006. Incident, histologically confirmed cases of endometrial cancer (n = 542) were frequency age-matched to controls (n = 1,032). The Lifetime Total Physical Activity Questionnaire was used to measure occupational, household, and recreational activity levels. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted. Total lifetime physical activity reduced endometrial cancer risk (odds ratio [OR] for >129 vs. <82 MET-h/week/year = 0.86, 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 0.63, 1.18). By type of activity, the risks were significantly decreased for greater recreational activity (OR = 0.64, 95% CI: 0.47, 0.87), but not for household activity (OR = 1.09, 95% CI: 0.75, 1.58) and/or occupational activity (OR = 0.90, 95% CI: 0.67, 1.20) when comparing the highest to lowest quartiles. For activity performed at different biologically defined life periods, some indication of reduced risks with activity done between menarche and full-term pregnancy and after menarche was observed. When examining the activity by intensity of activity (i.e., light <3, moderate 3–6, and vigorous >6 METs), light activity slightly decreased endometrial cancer risk (OR = 0.68, 95% CI: 0.48, 0.97) but no association with moderate or vigorous intensity activity was found. Endometrial cancer risk was increased with sedentary occupational activity by 28% (95 CI%: 0.89, 1.83) for >11.3 h/week/year versus ≤2.4 h/week/year or by 11% for every 5 h/week/year spent in sedentary behavior. This study provides evidence for a decreased risk between lifetime physical activity and endometrial cancer risk and a possible increased risk associated with sedentary behavior.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s10552-010-9538-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.