Physical Activity Levels of Women Attending Glasgow Breast Clinics

Tan, A.; Pavlidou, E.; Ogston, K.; Doughty, J.; Wilson, C.; Campbell, A.; Tovey, S.

Abstract

Introduction
Epidemiological studies suggest that moderate intensity recreational physical activity (PA) improves breast cancer survival. We aimed to assess the current levels of PA in breast cancer survivors and a cohort of women with benign disease attending clinics in Glasgow.
Materials and Methods
Patients at breast clinics at the GRI and WIG were recruited over a 5 week period. Data on physical activity levels (occupational, household, recreational) over the 7 days were recorded using the International Physical Activity Questionaire (IPAQ).
Results
A total of 352 patients were recruited with 141 (40.1%) of the patients completing the questionnaire successfully (table 1).Recreational PA appears to be the major influence on breast cancer survival (1) and the reported MET-hr/week for each cohort are shown in table 2.
Discussion
Scottish guidelines (2) suggest 30min of moderate exercise most days a week is beneficial (>10MET-hr/week) but over 60% of our patients were not achieving this. A recreational PA level of >5MET/hr/week has been demonstrated to confer a benefit on breast survival (1). However 50% of our breast cancer survivors are not meeting this relatively modest target (equivalent to 1hr15min moderate activity/week). With the planned implementation of an exercise programme for all newly diagnosed breast cancer patients in Glasgow, we hope to improve levels of recreational physical activity and will re-audit following its introduction.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Dec 15, 2009
• Deposit Date: Jul 26, 2016
• Journal: Cancer Research
• Print ISSN: 0008-5472
• Electronic ISSN: 1538-7445
• Publisher: American Association for Cancer Research
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 69
• Issue: 24 Supplement
• Pages: 2066-2066
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1158/0008-5472.sabcs-09-2066
• Keywords: Cancer Research; Oncology
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/316822