Originally published as JCO Early Release 10.1200/JCO.2008.17.5026 on January 12 2009

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Physical Activity and Quality of Life in Adult Survivors of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

From the Department of Human Development and Family Studies, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT; Office of Cancer Survivorship; Cancer Prevention Fellowship Program; and Outcomes Research Branch, Applied Research Program, Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD; and the Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA.

Corresponding author: Keith M. Bellizzi, PhD, MPH, University of Connecticut, 348 Mansfield Rd, Unit 2058, Storrs, CT 06269; e-mail: Keith.M.Bellizzi{at}Uconn.edu.

Purpose To examine the prevalence and correlates of physical activity in adult survivors of aggressive non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (NHL) and to explore the association between physical activity level and health-related quality of life (HRQOL).

Patients and Methods Physical activity and HRQOL data from 319 survivors of NHL (mean age, 59.8 years, standard deviation, ±14.8) who were diagnosed in Los Angeles County approximately 2 to 5 years before the study was analyzed.

Results One quarter of survivors of NHL met public health guidelines of 150 minutes or more of moderate to vigorous exercise per week. More than half (53%) reported some activity but less than 150 minutes per week, whereas 20% reported no physical activity. Females, those with lower perceived health competence, and individuals with more comorbid limitations were at increased risk for inactivity. Individuals who met public health guidelines reported better HRQOL than those who were sedentary. Interestingly, our findings suggest a significant positive association between HRQOL and those who get at least some exercise.

Conclusion The effort to promote physical activity among cancer survivors, who are at risk for poor quality of life as a result of treatment, is of great importance to the health of this growing population. As NHL, similar to other cancers, becomes a disease that people live with as opposed to one that people die as a result of, oncologists and primary care physicians will be increasingly challenged to provide evidence-based guidance for the long-term management of the patient's health. Consideration should be given to how clinicians frame exercise-promoting messages to cancer survivors, especially to those who are sedentary.

Supported in part by the California Department of Health Services as part of the statewide cancer reporting program mandated by California Health and Safety Code Section 103885; by National Cancer Institute Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program Contract No. N01-PC-35139 awarded to the University of Southern California and Contract No. N02-PC-15105 awarded to the Public Health Institute; and by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Program of Cancer Registries Agreement No. U55/CCR921930-02 awarded to the Public Health Institute.

The ideas and opinions expressed herein are those of the author(s). Endorsement by the California Department of Health Services, the National Cancer Institute, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or their contractors and subcontractors is not intended, nor should it be inferred.

Authors' disclosures of potential conflicts of interest and author contributions are found at the end of this article.

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