Physical inactivity and head and neck cancer mortality

Background: This study was performed to examine the association between adulthood recreational physical inactivity (PIA) and mortality among patients with cancers of the head and neck.

Methods: Patients with head and neck cancer at Roswell Park between years 1990 to 1998 were included (N = 305). Multivariable Cox proportional hazard ratios (HR) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used to analyze the association between PIA and risk of dying.

Results: There was a 1.40-fold increase in risk of dying among PIA patients, when compared to active patients with head and neck cancers (HR = 1.40, CI: 1.03-1.91). This was observed greater in PIA women (HR = 2.40, CI: 1.28-4.52), patients who were overweight/obese (HR = 1.76, CI: 1.09-2.85), patients with pharynx as the primary site (HR = 1.85, CI: 1.01-3.38), and patients with distant metastasis (HR = 5.19, CI: 1.37-19.65).

Conclusion: Physically inactive patients with head and neck cancers are at significantly greater risk of dying when compared to patients who are active.

Keywords: head and neck cancer; mortality; physical inactivity.