A recent study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine reveals that muscular strength and good physical fitness are significantly associated with a reduced risk of death from any cause in individuals diagnosed with cancer. The findings suggest that tailored exercise programs to improve muscle strength and cardiorespiratory fitness in cancer patients could enhance their chances of survival.
The global cancer burden continues to rise, with 20 million diagnoses and nearly 10 million cancer-related deaths reported in 2022 alone. This trend is expected to escalate in the coming decades. Despite advancements in cancer treatment, the side effects, particularly those affecting the heart and muscles, can significantly impact survival rates.
To explore potential survival strategies, researchers sought to understand whether higher levels of muscle strength and cardiorespiratory fitness could influence mortality risk in cancer patients. They also aimed to investigate whether cancer type and stage played a role in these outcomes.
The study included data from 42 studies published up to August 2023, encompassing nearly 47,000 cancer patients with an average age of 64. These patients had varying types and stages of cancer, and the researchers focused on two key health indicators: muscle strength and cardiorespiratory fitness.
Muscle strength was measured using handgrip strength, with low strength classified as less than 13 kg to 25 kg for women and less than 20 kg to 40 kg for men. Cardiorespiratory fitness was assessed using cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) or the six-minute walk test (MWT).
The analysis showed that both muscle strength and cardiorespiratory fitness were strongly linked to a lower risk of death from any cause, including cancer-specific deaths. Compared to individuals with low muscle strength and poor fitness, those with higher levels of both were 31–46% less likely to die from any cause. Additionally, each increase in muscular strength was associated with an 11% reduction in risk.
For patients with advanced cancer (stages 3 and 4), the combination of muscle strength and fitness correlated with an 8–46% lower risk of death from any cause. Among patients with lung or digestive cancers, this reduction ranged from 19% to 41%. Furthermore, an increase in fitness levels was linked to an 18% lower risk of dying from cancer.
The researchers suggest that muscle strength could become a key factor in clinical practices to assess mortality risk in advanced cancer patients. Incorporating muscle-strengthening activities into patient care could potentially extend life expectancy, offering a promising strategy to improve survival outcomes in cancer treatment.
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