Fitness levels tied to survival
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Muscle strength and cardio fitness are linked to better cancer survival rates.
A comprehensive review of 42 studies, encompassing nearly 47,000 participants with varying cancer types and stages, reveals that higher muscular strength and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) significantly lower the risk of death from all causes.
The findings show the potential of fitness levels as a clinical marker in assessing mortality risk and improving life expectancy through exercise interventions.
Patients with greater muscle strength and fitness levels demonstrated a 31-46 per cent lower risk of all-cause mortality compared to those with lower levels.
Additionally, each incremental increase in muscle strength correlated with an additional 11 per cent decrease in mortality risk.
For patients in advanced cancer stages, improved fitness and strength were linked to an 8-46 per cent reduction in death risk, while individuals with lung or digestive cancers saw reductions ranging from 19 per cent to 41 per cent.
Researchers also noted that for every unit increase in CRF, the risk of cancer-specific mortality fell by 18 per cent.
The authors suggested that tailored exercise regimens focusing on strengthening muscles and enhancing CRF could become an integral part of treatment strategies for cancer patients.
“Our findings highlight that muscle strength could potentially be used in clinical practice to determine mortality risk in cancer patients in advanced stages and, therefore, muscle strengthening activities could be employed to increase life expectancy,” the researchers say.
While the study offers compelling evidence of the association between fitness levels and mortality, it remains observational. The data cannot definitively establish causation.
However, the findings provide a strong rationale for incorporating fitness evaluations into cancer care and exploring exercise-based interventions in future research.
