BACKGROUND

The present study aimed to investigate the association between physical activity before the incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and clinical outcomes in cancer survivors.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We analyzed 904 cancer survivors (median age [interquartile range] 75 [68-80] years; 297 [32.9%] patients were female) who required hospitalization for treatment of CVD. The amount of physical activity 1 month before the admission was assessed using the 3-question (3Q) assessment tool, and categorized as minimal, low, adequate, and high according to physical activity level. The primary outcome was the composite events of all-cause death and/or rehospitalization for CVD up to 1 year after discharge. The total amount of physical activity was identified in 544 (60.2%) patients in the minimal group, 95 (10.5%) in the low group, 253 (28.0%) in the adequate group, and 12 (1.3%) in the high group. A total of 686 (75.9%) patients completed follow up, with 252 (27.9%) composite events occurring. Even after adjustment for various confounders, higher physical activity was significantly associated with a lower composite event rate (adjusted hazard ratio [95% confidence interval] 0.859 [0.833-0.900]).

CONCLUSIONS

High physical activity in cancer survivors was associated with a lower composite event rate after treatment for CVD. Assessment of prehospital physical activity using the 3Q score may be useful in their risk stratification.