Abstract

Background: Prostate disease has a high disease burden. Emerging work demonstrates that physical activity may have survival benefits among those with prostate disease. However, only 3 studies to date have evaluated the relationship between physical activity and mortality among those with prostate disease, which was this study’s purpose. Methods: Data from the NHANES 2001-2006 cycles were employed, including 5,030 adult participants (20+ yrs). Participants were followed through to 2011. Physical activity and prostate disease status were self-reported. Results: 417 participants at baseline had a diagnosis of prostate disease, with 4,613 not having this diagnosis. After adjustments, those with prostate disease at baseline who met physical activity guidelines did not have a reduced risk of all-cause (HR=1.09; 95% CI: 0.64-1.85) or cancer-specific mortality (HR=1.35; 95% CI: 0.41-4.48) when compared to those who did not meet physical activity guidelines. However, those who met physical activity guidelines but did not have prostate disease at baseline had a reduced risk of all-cause (HR=0.58; 95% CI: 0.44-0.75) and cancer-specific mortality (HR=0.56; 95% CI: 0.31-1.01; P=0.05). Conclusions: Physical activity had survival benefits among those without prostate disease, but this effect was not observable among those with prostate disease. The present findings suggest the importance of clinician promotion of prostate disease control strategies and patient education considering that the beneficial effects of physical activity (regarding survival) appears to be attenuated by prostate disease status.

Key words: Epidemiology; exercise; survival; prostate; physical activity