Article Text

Download PDFPDF
Quality of Life, Body Mass Index, and Physical Activity Among Uterine Cancer Patients
  1. Lilie L. Lin, MD*,
  2. Justin C. Brown, BS*,
  3. Saya Segal, MD and
  4. Kathryn H. Schmitz, PhD*
  1. *University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia PA; and
  2. University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ.
  1. Address correspondence and reprint requests to Lilie L. Lin, MD, Department of Radiation Oncology, Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine, TRC2 W, 3400 Civic Center Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19104. E-mail: lin{at}xrt.upenn.edu.

Abstract

Objective The purpose of this study was to assess the independent and joint effects of body mass index (BMI) and physical activity (PA) on overall quality of life (QoL) in survivors of uterine cancer.

Methods We conducted a survey among uterine cancer patients who received curative therapy at the University of Pennsylvania between 2006 and 2010. Surveys assessed the weight, height, PA (college alumnus survey), and QoL (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy–Gynecologic Oncology Group).

Results The response rate to the survey was 43%. Among 213 patients, the mean (SD) BMI was 31.1 (8.9) kg/m2, and 48% reported greater than or equal to 150 min·wk−1 of PA. Higher BMI was independently associated with poorer overall QoL (P = 0.050), including physical (P = 0.002) and functional well-being (P = 0.008). Higher min·wk−1 of PA was not independently associated with any QoL outcome. However, among patients who engaged in greater than or equal to 150 min·wk−1 of PA, the negative association between BMI and overall QoL was attenuated (P = 0.558), whereas among patients who engaged in less than 150 min·wk−1 of PA, the negative association between BMI and overall QoL persisted (P = 0.025). Among patients who engaged in greater than or equal to 150 min·wk−1 of PA, the negative association between BMI and physical and functional well-being was attenuated (P = 0.765 and P = 0.284), whereas among patients who engaged in less than 150 min·wk−1 of PA, the negative association between BMI and physical and functional well-being persisted (P < 0.001 and P = 0.010), respectively.

Conclusions Body mass index is associated with poorer QoL among uterine cancer patients. The findings from this cross-sectional study are consistent with the hypothesis that endometrial cancer survivors who are able to perform 150 min/wk of PA may be protected from the negative effects of BMI on QoL.

  • Physical activity
  • Uterine cancer
  • Survivorship
  • Quality of life
  • Body mass index

Statistics from Altmetric.com

Request Permissions

If you wish to reuse any or all of this article please use the link below which will take you to the Copyright Clearance Center’s RightsLink service. You will be able to get a quick price and instant permission to reuse the content in many different ways.

Footnotes

  • Dr Segal received funding from NIH Grant # T32HD007440-17.

  • The authors declare no conflicts of interest.