Physical Activity is Associated with Health Related Quality of Life in Lymphoma Survivors Regardless of Body Mass Index; Results from the Profiles Registry

Abstract

Background

Being obese and having a sedentary lifestyle is associated with impaired health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among cancer survivors. The aim of the present study is to investigate the combined influence of body mass index (BMI) and physical activity on HRQoL in lymphoma survivors.

Methods

Lymphoma survivors diagnosed between 1999 and 2012 were invited to complete questionnaires about body height and weight, physical activity and HRQoL using the EORTC QLQ-C30. Multivariable analyses were conducted to evaluate the association of BMI and physical activity on HRQoL.

Results

1.339 lymphoma survivors responded (response rate of 72%) of whom 43% had a healthy weight, 41% were overweight and 14% were obese. They spent on average 10 h, on moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) per week. Multivariable linear regression analysis shows that relatively high active survivors reported higher HRQoL scores and less fatigue compared to relatively low active lymphoma survivors, regardless of BMI.

Conclusion

MVPA was associated with higher HRQoL in lymphoma survivors regardless of BMI. Further studies, are needed to investigate effects of healthy lifestyle changes to improve HRQoL in lymphoma survivors. Research in understanding association of lifestyle factors may guide future support for lymphoma cancer survivors.

Acknowledgments

Medical oncologists and hematologists in the following hospitals provided cooperation in the South-East region: Catharina hospital, Eindhoven; Jeroen Bosch hospital, ‘S Hertogenbosch; Maxima Medical Center, Eindhoven and Veldhoven; Sint Anna hospital, Geldrop; St. Elisabeth hospital, Tilburg; Twee Steden hospital, Tilburg; VieCuri hospital, Venlo and Venray; Hospital Bernhoven, Oss, and in the North-West region: Amsterdam UMC; Kennemer Gasthuis, Haarlem; Medical Center Alkmaar, Alkmaar; Gemini hospital, Den Helder, Medical Center Slotervaart, Amsterdam; Flevoziekenhuis, Almere and Amstelland hospital, Amstelveen.

Disclosure Statement

The authors report no conflict of interest.

Author Contributions

Conceptualization: CV, SO, NE, SB, Data curation: CV, SO, SS, Formal analysis: CV, SO, PV, NE, SB, Funding acquisition: SO, Investigation: CV, SO, SS, Methodology: CV, SO, NE, SB, Project administration: CV, SO, SB, Resources: SO, SS, Software: CV, Supervision: SO, SB, Validation: CV, SO, NE, SB, Visualization: CV, SO, NE, SB, Writing-original draft: CV, Writing-review and editing: CV, SO, NE, GS, SS, MT, PV, SB

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded by the Jonker-Driessen Foundation. This funding agency had no further role in study design; in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; in the writing of the report; and in the decision to submit the paper for publication.