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Cancer Causes & Control
Published in: Cancer Causes & Control 9/2008

01-11-2008 | Original Paper

Physical activity, sedentary behavior, and the risk of colon and rectal cancer in the NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study

Authors: Regan A. Howard, D. Michal Freedman, Yikyung Park, Albert Hollenbeck, Arthur Schatzkin, Michael F. Leitzmann

Published in: Cancer Causes & Control | Issue 9/2008

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Abstract

Objective

In order to prospectively investigate physical activity at varying intensities and sedentary behavior in relation to colorectal cancer.

Methods

We considered 488,720 participants of the NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study who were aged 50–71 years at baseline in 1995–1996. Through 31 December, 2003, we identified 3,240 and 1,482 colorectal cancers among men and women, respectively. We estimated multivariable relative risks (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of colorectal cancer using Cox regression.

Results

Engaging in exercise/sports five or more times per week compared to never or rarely exercising was associated with a reduced risk of colon cancer among men (p = 0.001; RR = 0.79, 95% CI = 0.68–0.91) and a suggestive decrease in risk among women (p = 0.376; RR = 0.85, 95% CI = 0.70–1.04). Engaging in exercise/sports was also associated with a decreased risk of rectal cancer in men (P = 0.074; RR comparing extreme categories = 0.76, 95% CI = 0.61–0.94). In men, we observed inverse relations of both low intensity (p = 0.017; RR = 0.81, 95% CI = 0.65–1.00 for ≥7 h/week) and moderate to vigorous intensity activity (p = 0.037; RR = 0.82, 95% CI = 0.67–0.99 for ≥7 h/week) to colon cancer risk. In contrast, sedentary behavior (time spent watching television/videos) was positively associated with colon cancer (p < 0.001; RR = 1.61, 95% CI = 1.14–2.27 for ≥9 h/day) among men. Similar, but less pronounced relations were observed in women.

Conclusion

Engaging in physical activity of any intensity is associated with reductions in colon and rectal cancer risk. Conversely, time spent sedentary is associated with increased colon cancer risk.
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Metadata
Title
Physical activity, sedentary behavior, and the risk of colon and rectal cancer in the NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study
Authors
Regan A. Howard
D. Michal Freedman
Yikyung Park
Albert Hollenbeck
Arthur Schatzkin
Michael F. Leitzmann
Publication date
01-11-2008
Publisher
Springer Netherlands
Published in
Cancer Causes & Control / Issue 9/2008
Print ISSN: 0957-5243
Electronic ISSN: 1573-7225
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-008-9159-0

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