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Lifestyle, behavioral factors affect cancer risk in elderly
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AACR Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research
Recognizing behavioral and lifestyle factors that affect cancer risk among the elderly may improve recommendations to reduce the risk for future cancers, according to data presented at the AACR Seventh Annual International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research.
“About 80% of all cancers are diagnosed in the elderly and more than 80% of known risk factors are potentially preventable,” Igor Akushevich, PhD, research scientist from the Center for Population Health and Aging at Duke University in Durham, N.C., said in a press release.
Akushevich and colleagues used data from the National Long Term Care Survey, the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results Program and Medicare claims to determine the associations between lifestyle, behavioral and demographic factors and the risk for breast, lung, colon and prostate cancers among people aged 65 years or older.
The researchers reported that light physical activities decreased cancer risk and moderate activities decreased the risk further. However, an increased risk for death from all causes as people age may reduce the preventative effects of physical activity.
Comorbidities like circulatory disease and diabetes increased the risk for breast cancer, and immune diseases increased the risk for prostate cancer.
Type of Medicare plan was also a factor for risk and mortality; plans that required out-of-pocket payments resulted in higher risk, according to a press release.
For more information:
- Akushevich I. #B119. Presented at: AACR Seventh Annual International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research; Nov. 16-18, 2008; Washington.