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Gastric cancer risk reduced with increased physical activity
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Patients who reported more physical activity were less likely to be diagnosed with gastric cancer in a recent study.
Researchers performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of seven cohort and nine case-control studies including data on the impact of recreational or occupational physical activity on risk for gastric cancer. Each study’s quality was ranked for bias based on study design, the instrument used to measure activity, and adjustment/accounting for age, sex and obesity status in analysis.
There were 11,111 cases of gastric cancer observed among 1,606,760 patients; mean follow-up was 6 to 18.8 years. Nine studies indicated an inverse association between activity and risk for gastric cancer.
Patients reporting the most physical activity were at reduced risk for gastric cancer compared with those with the least physical activity (OR=0.79; 95% CI, 0.71-0.87), with moderate heterogeneity observed across studies (I2=57%; P<.01). This association was upheld when specific gastric cancers were assessed, including those in the cardia (OR=0.8; 95% CI, 0.63-1, across four studies) and distal stomach (OR=0.63; 95% CI, 0.52-0.76, five studies). Results were consistent regardless of patient sex or the design or geographic location of the study.
Recreational physical activity was associated with an 18% risk reduction for gastric cancer (OR=0.82; 95% CI, 0.72-0.94) for 12 studies, while occupational activity was not linked with risk across six studies (OR=0.9; 95% CI, 0.69-1.18). Analysis of six high-quality studies yielded a reduced but significant link (OR=0.86; 95% CI, 0.75-0.99), with moderate but nonsignificant heterogeneity (I2=51%; P=.07). No publication bias was detected.
“The risk of overall and site-specific gastric cancer is lower among the most physically active people as compared with the least physically active people,” the researchers wrote. “Hence, gastric cancer risk reduction may be an additional benefit to a myriad of health benefits [from] being physically active, which include cardiovascular, metabolic and psychological well-being. Currently, it is unclear what is the ideal type, intensity, frequency and time period of physical activity that may modify cancer risk.”
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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