This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.
Recreational physical activity reduced esophageal adenocarcinoma risk
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts
SAN DIEGO — Patients who reported more recreational physical activity were at significantly reduced risk for esophageal cancer, particularly esophageal adenocarcinoma, in a study presented at the American College of Gastroenterology Annual Scientific Meeting.
The researchers performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of eight studies assessing potential associations between recreation and/or occupational physical activity and risk for esophageal cancer (EC). Four studies evaluated all types of EC, three assessed only esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC), one included only esophageal squamous cell cancer (ESCC), and one study evaluated EAC and ESCC separately.
Across five studies of 1,217 patients, risk for EC was significantly lower among the most physically active participants compared with the least active (OR=0.81; 95% CI, 0.67-0.99), with low heterogeneity observed (I2=33%). In four studies incorporating 506 cases, physical activity reduced EAC risk (OR=0.68; 95% CI, 0.55-0.85), but no significant impact on ESCC risk was observed in two studies of 674 cases (OR=0.46; 95% CI, 0.08-2.73). Among three studies assessing recreational physical activity specifically, recreational activity was associated with reduced EC risk (OR=0.83; 95% CI, 0.69-1), while occupational activity was not.
Investigators said these results were not impacted by geographic location (P=.71), study design (P=.19) or whether controls included cancer-free patients or those with nonesophageal cancers (P=.19). The potential for reporting bias was noted, as summary estimates for some studies with negative results were not provided.
Siddharth Singh
“Recreational physical activity, the potentially modifiable component of daily activity, may reduce the risk of development of esophageal adenocarcinoma in patients at high risk for this condition (such as patients with Barrett’s esophagus), independent of baseline obesity,” researcher Siddharth Singh, MBBS, gastroenterologist at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., told Healio.com. “Esophageal cancer risk reduction may be an additional benefit to a myriad of health benefits with being physically active, which include cardiovascular, metabolic and psychological well-being.” Singh said it is unclear what type, intensity, frequency or duration of activity is ideal for reducing cancer risk.
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
For more information: