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THE BENEFITS OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN MEN WITH PROSTATE CANCER - A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

BENEFÍCIOS DA ATIVIDADE FÍSICA EM HOMENS COM CÂNCER DE PRÓSTATA - REVISÃO SISTEMÁTICA

ABSTRACT

This is a systematic review whose objective was to analyze original studies investigating the association of physical activity in the health of men diagnosed with prostate cancer. The databases used were PubMed, Web of Science, Science Direct, Virtual Library Scielo, and Virtual Library of Health. The descriptors used in the search were [physical activity] AND [prostate cancer] in English, Spanish and Portuguese. We included 21 studies published in English, from 2004 to 2015. The investigations had increased focus on physical activity and other variables, relating positively to improving the quality of life. Positive results were observed in the physical, fatigue and sexual function in addition to the decrease in waist circumference and blood pressure. Further studies are suggested in order to investigate the physical activity at different intensities with longitudinal methodologies, permeating the diagnosis, the treatment period and recovery.

Keywords:
Prostate cancer; Motor activity; Health

RESUMO

Trata-se de uma revisão sistemática cujo objetivo foi analisar estudos originais que investigaram benefícios da atividade física em homens com câncer de próstata. A busca foi realizada nas bases de dados PubMed, Web of Science, Science Direct, Biblioteca Virtual Scielo, e Biblioteca Virtual da Saúde. Para o levantamento dos artigos utilizou-se os descritores [motor activity] AND [prostate neoplasm] em inglês, espanhol e português. Foram incluídos 21 estudos publicados em inglês, entre 2004 e 2015. As investigações tiveram maior foco na atividade física com outras variáveis, relacionando-as positivamente com melhoria da qualidade de vida e diminuição da mortalidade e progressão da doença. Foram observados benefícios em variáveis como fadiga e função sexual, além da diminuição na circunferência abdominal e pressão arterial. Novos estudos são sugeridos a fim de investigar a prática de atividade física em diferentes intensidades com ensaios clínicos randomizados, permeando o diagnóstico, período de tratamento e recuperação do paciente.

Palavras-chave:
Atividade motora; Neoplasia da próstata; Qualidade de vida

Introduction

Prostate cancer is currently a public health problem; its incidence has been increasing since the 1960s, and according to the Cancer National Institute11. Instituto Nacional de Câncer José Alencar Gomes da Silva (Inca). Coordenação de Prevenção e Vigilância. Coordenação de Prevenção e Vigilância. Estimativa 2014: Incidência de Câncer no Brasil. Rio de Janeiro: Inca; 2014. this growth is due to the remarkable developments in diagnostic techniques, including screening practices by Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) test. Prostate cancer is the sixth most common type of cancer worldwide and the most prevalent among men in many countries, representing approximately 10% of total cancers22. Orsini N, Belloco R, Bottai M, Pagano M, Andersson SO, Johansson JE, et al. A prospective study of lifetime physical activity and prostate cancer incidence and mortality. Br J Cancer 2009;101(11):1932-1938.. It is estimated that, by the year 2015, there will be a 60% increase in the number of new cases in Brazil, and one in six men over the age 45 years may have the disease without knowing it33. Sociedade Brasileira De Urologia (SBU). Recomendações sobre o câncer de próstata. Rio de Janeiro: Elsevier - Sociedade Brasileira de Urologia. Rio de Janeiro: Elsevier - Sociedade Brasileira de Urologia; 2013.. Risk factors are namely being Afro-American, obesity (BMI> 30) and having a family history44. Krisnadasan A, Kennedy N, Zhao Y, Morgenstern H, Ritz B. Nested case-control study of occupational physical activity and prostate cancer among workers using a job exposure matrix. Cancer Causes Control 2008;19(1):107-114..

Patients have their life altered at the different stages of fighting the disease, with significant losses in their quality of life, caused by the disease itself or by the treatment side effects22. Orsini N, Belloco R, Bottai M, Pagano M, Andersson SO, Johansson JE, et al. A prospective study of lifetime physical activity and prostate cancer incidence and mortality. Br J Cancer 2009;101(11):1932-1938.,55. Magbanua MJ, Richman EL, Sosa EV, Jones LW, Simko J, Shinohara K, et al. Physical activity and prostate gene expression in men with low-risk prostate cancer. Cancer Causes Control 2014;25(4):515-523.. However, life expectancy of prostate cancer patients has significantly improved in recent years. According to recent data, the survival rate for 10 years is 99%55. Magbanua MJ, Richman EL, Sosa EV, Jones LW, Simko J, Shinohara K, et al. Physical activity and prostate gene expression in men with low-risk prostate cancer. Cancer Causes Control 2014;25(4):515-523.. Due to this increase in patients' longevity, there has been a growing focus on improving the health and well-being in the long-term post prostate cancer patients, especially throug physical activity22. Orsini N, Belloco R, Bottai M, Pagano M, Andersson SO, Johansson JE, et al. A prospective study of lifetime physical activity and prostate cancer incidence and mortality. Br J Cancer 2009;101(11):1932-1938.,55. Magbanua MJ, Richman EL, Sosa EV, Jones LW, Simko J, Shinohara K, et al. Physical activity and prostate gene expression in men with low-risk prostate cancer. Cancer Causes Control 2014;25(4):515-523..

In this sense, regular physical activity has been recognized as a strategy to promote overall health, and, in patients with prostate cancer, it can minimize the side effects as well as improve their recovery and survival in the post treatment55. Magbanua MJ, Richman EL, Sosa EV, Jones LW, Simko J, Shinohara K, et al. Physical activity and prostate gene expression in men with low-risk prostate cancer. Cancer Causes Control 2014;25(4):515-523.. Reduced bone density, decreased muscle mass and strength, increased body weight and body fat, and decline in physical functioning are among the adverse effects of the prostate cancer treatment, which can be heightened due to sedentary behavior55. Magbanua MJ, Richman EL, Sosa EV, Jones LW, Simko J, Shinohara K, et al. Physical activity and prostate gene expression in men with low-risk prostate cancer. Cancer Causes Control 2014;25(4):515-523..

Physical activity can play a positive role in cancer outcome because it generates well-being feeling that makes the patient participate more appropriately in the treatment. In this sense, the American College of Sports Medicine66. American College Of Sports Medicine: Acsm's Resource Manual for Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription. 6th edition. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2010. recommends 150 minutes of moderate physical activity or 75 minutes of vigorous physical activity per week for cancer patients, as well as endurance training twice a week in order to improve the patients' general physical health77. Schmitz KH, Courneya KS, Matthews C, Demark-Wahnefried W, Galvao DA, Pinto BM. American College of Sports Medicine Roundtable on Exercise Guidelines for Cancer Survivors. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2010;42(7):1409-1426. and well-being88. Giovannucci EL, Liu Y, Leitzmann MF, Stampfer MJ, Willett WC: A prospective study of physical activity and incident and fatal prostate cancer. Arch Intern Med 2005; 165(2):1005-1010..

Therefore, through this systematic review, we aimed at answering the following research question: What are the possible benefits of physical activity in men diagnosed with prostate cancer in-treatment or post-treatment?

Methods

This study is a systematic review, using theoretical references99. Cervo AL, Bervian PA. Metodologia científica. São Paulo: Makron Books; 1996.) as a main tool. PRISMA model - Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis1010. Moher D, Liberati A, Tetzlaff J, Altman D. Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses: The Prisma Statement. Ann Intern Med 2009; 151(4):264-269.,1111. Liberati A, Altman D, Tetzlaff J, Mulrow C, Gotzsche PC, Ioannidis JPA, et al. The Prisma statement for reporting systematic reviews and meta-analyses of studies that evaluate healthcare interventions: explanation and elaboration. BMJ 2009; 339: b2700. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.b2700
https://doi.org/http://dx.doi.org/10.113...
was chosen to carry out this review. The following databases were used for consultation and search for articles: PubMed, Web of Science, Science Direct, Scielo Virtual Library and Virtual Health Library (BVS). A combination of descriptors was used in the search, including terms from the Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) and from "Descritores em Ciências da Saúde" (Health Sciences Descriptors) (DECs): "physical activity" OR "motor activity" OR "physical activities" OR "locomotor activities "AND" prostate cancer "OR" prostatic neoplasms "OR" prostatic cancer "OR" cancer of prostate "in English, Spanish and Portuguese. The electronic search was carried out from August 1, 2014 to December 31 2015.

The inclusion criteria were: (a) studies published from 2004 to 2014, b) in English, Spanish or Portuguese, (c) use as sample men diagnosed with prostate cancer; (d) investigated physical activity with direct or indirect measures; (e) mentioned descriptors in its variables either in the title or the abstract (f) available in full and digital access, and (g) investigated physical activity practice and its benefits in men diagnosed with prostate cancer during treatment or after treatment. The exclusion criteria were: (a) those characterized methodologically as systematic or literature reviews, pilot studies, study protocols, dissertations, theses, book chapters, publisher's supplements and comments, (b) use of the term exercise instead of physical activity in the title, abstract or full article and (c) manual cross-references.

Titles and abstracts were identified on the first stage of the study, together with a secondary search in the bibliographic list of articles. After excluding articles that did not meet the inclusion criteria together with duplicate items, a book report of all selected articles was accomplished to organize their full reading. The whole search process and selection of studies was carried out by three researchers, blindly and independently, in order to achieve greater reliability, with a 95% confidence interval.

Data quality was assessed using the methodological criteria proposed by Downs and Black1212. Downs HS, Black N. The feasibility of creating a checklist for the assessment of the methodological quality both of randomised and non-randomised studies of health care interventions. J Epidemiol Community Health 1998;52(6):377-384., with 27 questions of a checklist, based on methodological aspects of communication, external validity, internal validity (bias), internal validity (confounding variables) and statistical power. Only 19 of the 27 questions were used because of studies that did not include interventions in their methodology. Questions 4, 8, 13-15, 19, 23 and 24 were excluded. We graded zero if the article was not relevant to what was being evaluated, and 1 when a positive response was observed. Only question 5 had a maximum score of 2. Thus, the maximum score for each article that did not have intervention was 20 points, and those presenting it was 28 points.

Results

Figure 1 shows the strategy selection of studies flowchart according to PRISMA guidelines. After the initial search in databases, we found a total of 1,059 studies in the selected databases fitting the descriptors and the criteria established in the methodology: 429 in PubMed, 135 in Science Direct, 377 in Web of Science, 4 in Scielo, and 114 in the BVS. 12 cross-references were initially excluded, leaving 1,047 articles. 179 were excluded because they were outside the date specified in the methodology (2004-2015); 145 were systematic literature reviews, editorial, supplement, book, pilot study or protocol study; 163 used the word "exercise"; 178 were outside the established theme and did not relate to physical activity and its potential benefits; 32 were in another language; 24 were animal studies; 61 were not available in full text, and 67 did not present the descriptors in their titles and/or abstracts. The remaining 198 articles fit the inclusion criteria for full reading. After reading the full articles, 177 were excluded: 164 because they did not address the subject and 13 because they were a qualitative approach.

Thus, we were left with 21 studies at the end of the selection process that were included in the systematic review. These 21 articles are shown in Table 1, with author/year, language of publication, name of the journal, and the database they were taken from. The chosen articles were published from 2004 to 2015. The most productive year was 2011, with four publications. All articles were originally published in English, and the predominant database was Web of Science (n = 12).

Table 2 shows more detailed information of each article, such as type of study, objective, sampling, assessment tools, intervention characteristics and main results. As for the type of study, only 17 articles specified the methodology they used, especially prospective cohort studies (n = 3). The sample ranged from 33 to 293,902 patients, all male adults or the elderly, both diagnosed with prostate cancer, totaling 410,882 men involved in the studies. In all cases the patients had already performed or were in clinical treatment for prostate cancer: in Androgen Deprivation Treatment (n = 3), radiotherapy (n = 2), in the postoperative period of radical prostatectomy (n = 4), and those who had already completed the treatment (n = 12).

Figure 1
Flow chart of studies selection strategy according to PRISMA guidelines.

Table 1
Details of selected articles regarding title, language, journal and database.

Most studies related physical activity to another variable, such as sexual functioning, diet, time required to return to work, type of occupation, mortality, social interaction, waist circumference, sociodemographic variables, urinary incontinence, and the side effects from androgen deprivation therapy. The majority (n = 6) used quality of life as a second variable.

The instruments used to assess physical activity were mostly (n = 19) questionnaires sent by mail, self-administered or collected through interviews. The following validated questionnaires are among the most frequently cited: Self-Administered Physical Activity Questionnaire for Male Health Professionals; Yale Physical Activity Survey; Framingham Physical Activity Index; Total Lifetime Physical Activity; International Physical Activity Questionnaire; Godin Leisure Time Exercise Questionnaire, Self-Reported Physical Activity Total Differences by Relative Weight. Only one study used the accelerometer, and one study used The Canadian Aerobic Fitnesse Test besides the questionnaire. Only six studies investigated the benefits of physical activity through interventions, mainly through support groups and stimulation to physical activity.

Most studies related a positive outcome for physical activity in improving quality of life and the lifestyle of men with prostate cancer (n = 5). Improvements were also observed for the following variables: physical, fatigue and sexual function (n = 3), as well as a decrease in abdominal circumference (n = 2) and blood pressure (n = 1). A significant improvement was also found regarding anxiety and depression (n = 1), as well as a delay in the progression and reduction in mortality related to prostate cancer in the studied patients (n = 5).

As for the scores obtained through Downs & Black Methodological Scale1212. Downs HS, Black N. The feasibility of creating a checklist for the assessment of the methodological quality both of randomised and non-randomised studies of health care interventions. J Epidemiol Community Health 1998;52(6):377-384., the articles obtained an average of 16.4 points, given a maximum score of 20 points. One of the questions with the lowest score was no description of the characteristics of patients lost during the study. The scoring average was 21.16 points for articles that presented intervention in their methodologies, with a maximum score of 28 points. These presented flaws in their internal validity, specifically in the blinding of patients regarding the intervention and control groups as well as between patients and researchers.

Table 2
Details of selected articles regarding type of study, objectives, sample, instruments, intervention and results.

Discussion

The main objective of this systematic review was to analyze studies investigating the benefits of physical activity in men with prostate cancer. Thus, the studies standing out are those addressing the association of physical activity with a decreased risk in the incidence, progression or mortality due to prostate cancer22. Orsini N, Belloco R, Bottai M, Pagano M, Andersson SO, Johansson JE, et al. A prospective study of lifetime physical activity and prostate cancer incidence and mortality. Br J Cancer 2009;101(11):1932-1938.,44. Krisnadasan A, Kennedy N, Zhao Y, Morgenstern H, Ritz B. Nested case-control study of occupational physical activity and prostate cancer among workers using a job exposure matrix. Cancer Causes Control 2008;19(1):107-114.,1313. Crespo CJ, Garcia-Palmieri MR, Smit E, Lee IM, McGee D, Muti P. et al. Physical Activity and Prostate Cancer Mortality in Puerto Rican Men. J Phys Act Health 2008;5(6):918-929.,1414. Kenfield SA, Stamperf MJ, Giovannucci E, Chan JM. Physical activity and survival after prostate cancer diagnosis in the health professionals follow-up study. J Clin Oncol 2011;29(6):726-732.,1515. Moore SC, Peters TM, Ahn J, Park Y, Schatzkin A, Albanes D, et al. Physical activity in relation to total, advanced, and fatal prostate cancer. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2008;17(9):2458-2466.,1616. Richman EL, Kenfield SA, Stampfer MJ, Paciorek A, Carrol PR, Chan JM. Physical activity after diagnosis and risk of prostate cancer progression: data from the cancer of the prostate strategic urologic research endeavor. Cancer Res 2011;71(11):3889-3895.,1717. Bonn SE, Sjölander A, Lagerros YT, Wiklund F, Stattin P, Holmberg E, et al. Physical activity and survival among men diagnosed with prostate cancer. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2015;24(1):57-64., followed by those that investigated the prevalence of physical activity1818. Chipperfield K, Fletcher J, Millar J, Brooker J, Smith R, Frydenberg M, et al. Factors associated with adherence to physical activity guidelines in patients with prostate cancer. Psychooncology 2013;22(11):2478-2486.,1919. Lynch BM, Dunstan DW, Winkler E, Healy GN, Eakin E, Owen N. Objectively assessed physical activity, sedentary time and waist circumference among prostate cancer survivors: findings from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2003-2006). Eur J Cancer Care 2011;20(4):514-519. or the time required to resume physical activity after surgery2020. Sultan R, Slova D, Thiel H, Lepor S. Time to Return to Work and Physical Activity Following Open Radical Retropubic Prostatectom. J Urol 2006;176(4):420-1423.. Some studies associated physical activity to quality of life2121. Mina DS, Matthew AG, Trachtenberg J, Tomlinson G, Guglietti CL, Alibhai SMH, et al. Physical activity and quality of life after radical prostatectomy. Can Urol Assoc J 2010;4(3):180-186.,2222. Mina DS, Guglietti CL, Alibhai SMH, Matthew AG, Kalnin R, Ahmad N, et al. The effect of meeting physical activity guidelines for cancer survivors on quality of life following radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer. J Cancer Surviv 2014;8(2):190-198.,2323. Phillips SM, Stampfer MJ, Chan JM, Giovanucci EL, Kenfield SA. Physical activity, sedentary behavior, and health-related quality of life in prostate cancer survivors in the health professionals follow-up study. J Cancer Surviv 2015;9(3):500-511. and sexual functioning for men who underwent radiation treatment2424. Dahn JR, Penedo FJ, Molton I, Lopez L, Schneiderman N, Antoni MH. Physical activity and sexual functioning after radiotherapy for prostate cancer: Beneficial effects for patients undergoing external beam radiotherapy. Urology 2005;65(5):953-958.. There were also studies addressing interventions and their possible benefits to men with prostate cancer2525. Gerset GM, Fossa SD, Dahl AA, Loge JH, Ensby T, Thorsen L. Effects of a 1-week inpatient course including information, physical activity, and group sessions for prostate cancer patients. J Cancer Educ 2011;26(4):754-760,2626. Herbert JR, Thomas GH, Brook EH, Heiney S, Hebert CJ, Steck SE. A diet, physical activity, and stress reduction intervention in men with rising prostate-specific antigen after treatment for prostate cancer. Cancer Detect Prev 2012;36(2), p.128-136, 2012.,2727. Mungovan SF, Huijbers BP, Hirschhorn AD, Patal MI. Relationships between perioperative physical activity and urinary incontinence after radical prostatectomy: an observational study. BMC Urol 2013;13(1):67-76.,2828. Reed SN, Robinson, JW, Lau H, Stephenson L, Keats M, Norris S, et al. Physical activity for men receiving androgen deprivation therapy for prostate cancer: benefits from a 16-week intervention. Support Care Cancer 2010;18(5):591- 599.,2929. Taylor CL, Smith MA, Demoor C, Dunn AL, Pettaway C, Sellin R, et al. Quality of life intervention for prostate cancer patients: design and baseline characteristics of the active for life after cancer trial. Trials 2004;25(n):265-285, 2004.,3030. Taylor CL, Demoor C, Smith MA, Dunn AL, Basen-Engquista K, Nielsen I, et al. Active for life after cancer: A randomized trial examining a lifestyle physical activity program for prostate cancer patients. Psychooncology 2006;15(n):847-862..

Walking has been associated to the decreased risk of incidence, progression or mortality due to the disease. A study in a population of adult and elderly men in Sweden pointed out that any daily increase of 30 minutes was associated with a 7% reduction in the incidence of total prostate cancer, 8% of localized prostate cancer and 12% of advanced cancer, having as reference 30-minute-walk a day22. Orsini N, Belloco R, Bottai M, Pagano M, Andersson SO, Johansson JE, et al. A prospective study of lifetime physical activity and prostate cancer incidence and mortality. Br J Cancer 2009;101(11):1932-1938.. Another study found a significant relationship and inversely proportional between walking pace and progression of prostate cancer16. Those who walked faster, at a pace ≥3 miles per hour (equivalent to approximately ≥ 4.828km), for three or more hours per week, showed 57% reduction in progression of prostate cancer after the diagnosis when compared to men who walked slowly, at a pace of ≤ 2 miles (> 3.21km) per hour, for less than 3 hours per week, thus, revealing positive results in the progression and incidence of prostate cancer. In this sense, Kenfield et al.1414. Kenfield SA, Stamperf MJ, Giovannucci E, Chan JM. Physical activity and survival after prostate cancer diagnosis in the health professionals follow-up study. J Clin Oncol 2011;29(6):726-732., when analyzing just the practice of walking by men after the diagnosis, observed significant benefits in the reduction of the overall death risk or due to prostate cancer, when men had over 7 hours of weekly walking practice when compared with only 20 minutes per week. Also, Bonn et al.1717. Bonn SE, Sjölander A, Lagerros YT, Wiklund F, Stattin P, Holmberg E, et al. Physical activity and survival among men diagnosed with prostate cancer. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2015;24(1):57-64. found lower mortality rates for prostate cancer in men who walked or rode bicycles for more than 20 minutes a day.

Giovannucci et al.3131. Giovannucci EL, Liu Y, Leitzmann MF, Stampfer MJ, Willett WC. A prospective study of physical activity and incident and fatal prostate cancer. Arch Intern Med 2005;165(9):1005-1010., studying vigorous physical activity, showed the relationship between vigorous physical activity and the delay in prostate cancer progression in American health professional, over 65 years, who practiced it at least 3 hours a week. This corroborated other studies associating the possible inhibition or delay in the prostate cancer progression as the result of vigorous physical activity1414. Kenfield SA, Stamperf MJ, Giovannucci E, Chan JM. Physical activity and survival after prostate cancer diagnosis in the health professionals follow-up study. J Clin Oncol 2011;29(6):726-732.,1616. Richman EL, Kenfield SA, Stampfer MJ, Paciorek A, Carrol PR, Chan JM. Physical activity after diagnosis and risk of prostate cancer progression: data from the cancer of the prostate strategic urologic research endeavor. Cancer Res 2011;71(11):3889-3895.. A correlation between total physical activity practice (moderate + vigorous) and the reduction of overall mortality rate in the men investigated1414. Kenfield SA, Stamperf MJ, Giovannucci E, Chan JM. Physical activity and survival after prostate cancer diagnosis in the health professionals follow-up study. J Clin Oncol 2011;29(6):726-732. was also found. Those who practiced 3 hours/week of vigorous physical activity obtained a 49% reduction in overall mortality when compared to 1 h/week. Similarly, men with 3h/week of vigorous physical activity had 61% lower risk of death from prostate cancer compared to men with less than 1h/week. This fact shows that moderate to vigorous physical activity may be associated with lower incidence of prostate cancer, as it may also be associated with decreased progression of the disease1414. Kenfield SA, Stamperf MJ, Giovannucci E, Chan JM. Physical activity and survival after prostate cancer diagnosis in the health professionals follow-up study. J Clin Oncol 2011;29(6):726-732.,1616. Richman EL, Kenfield SA, Stampfer MJ, Paciorek A, Carrol PR, Chan JM. Physical activity after diagnosis and risk of prostate cancer progression: data from the cancer of the prostate strategic urologic research endeavor. Cancer Res 2011;71(11):3889-3895.,3131. Giovannucci EL, Liu Y, Leitzmann MF, Stampfer MJ, Willett WC. A prospective study of physical activity and incident and fatal prostate cancer. Arch Intern Med 2005;165(9):1005-1010..

Some authors such as Moore et al.1515. Moore SC, Peters TM, Ahn J, Park Y, Schatzkin A, Albanes D, et al. Physical activity in relation to total, advanced, and fatal prostate cancer. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2008;17(9):2458-2466. observed no relationship between physical activity (PA) and the prostate cancer development, progression and mortality. They only found that an increase in PA during adolescence has a minimizer effect of 3% on the risk of developing prostate cancer and that the increase in PA also reduces the risk of mortality in patients under 65 years. In the study by Crespo et al.1313. Crespo CJ, Garcia-Palmieri MR, Smit E, Lee IM, McGee D, Muti P. et al. Physical Activity and Prostate Cancer Mortality in Puerto Rican Men. J Phys Act Health 2008;5(6):918-929., PA did not have grounds to predict the mortality of Puerto Rican men with prostate cancer. Given the studies selected in this systematic review, the relationship between physical activity and the benefits associated with decreased prostate cancer mortality showed different results, characterizing it as an inconsistent theme to this date1313. Crespo CJ, Garcia-Palmieri MR, Smit E, Lee IM, McGee D, Muti P. et al. Physical Activity and Prostate Cancer Mortality in Puerto Rican Men. J Phys Act Health 2008;5(6):918-929.,1515. Moore SC, Peters TM, Ahn J, Park Y, Schatzkin A, Albanes D, et al. Physical activity in relation to total, advanced, and fatal prostate cancer. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2008;17(9):2458-2466..

Other studies have investigated the benefits of PA in the period prior to surgery in mitigating the treatment effects and reducing the time required to resume occupational practices after surgery or medical treatment1818. Chipperfield K, Fletcher J, Millar J, Brooker J, Smith R, Frydenberg M, et al. Factors associated with adherence to physical activity guidelines in patients with prostate cancer. Psychooncology 2013;22(11):2478-2486.,2222. Mina DS, Guglietti CL, Alibhai SMH, Matthew AG, Kalnin R, Ahmad N, et al. The effect of meeting physical activity guidelines for cancer survivors on quality of life following radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer. J Cancer Surviv 2014;8(2):190-198.,2727. Mungovan SF, Huijbers BP, Hirschhorn AD, Patal MI. Relationships between perioperative physical activity and urinary incontinence after radical prostatectomy: an observational study. BMC Urol 2013;13(1):67-76.. Patients who had a muscle training for the pelvic floor intervention as well as PA before a radical prostatectomy surgery reduced their PA level three weeks after surgery, but they returned to their previous levels after 6 weeks2727. Mungovan SF, Huijbers BP, Hirschhorn AD, Patal MI. Relationships between perioperative physical activity and urinary incontinence after radical prostatectomy: an observational study. BMC Urol 2013;13(1):67-76.. Mina et al.2222. Mina DS, Guglietti CL, Alibhai SMH, Matthew AG, Kalnin R, Ahmad N, et al. The effect of meeting physical activity guidelines for cancer survivors on quality of life following radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer. J Cancer Surviv 2014;8(2):190-198. claim that patients with higher levels of PA preoperatively showed less decrease of quality of life in the postoperative period, about 30 days after their radical prostatectomy surgery. The same study found that PA reduced the symptoms of urinary incontinence, and that it is essential for these patients. Similarly, Phillips et al.2323. Phillips SM, Stampfer MJ, Chan JM, Giovanucci EL, Kenfield SA. Physical activity, sedentary behavior, and health-related quality of life in prostate cancer survivors in the health professionals follow-up study. J Cancer Surviv 2015;9(3):500-511. showed in their study that walking, at a pace ≥ 3 miles per hour (≥ 4,828km), resulted in improvements in urinary incontinence. Chipperfield et al.18 also found a significant relationship between physical activity during leisure time and quality of life improvement, noticing also that patients treated with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) were significantly less active than those treated only with radiation therapy. Similarly, Phillips et al.23 found that men who walked at a pace higher than 2 miles (> 3,21km) per hour for 90 minutes per week had scored better on vitality when compared to those who walked at a pace lower than 2 miles (<3,21km) per hour, for less than 90 minutes a week.

Studies investigating the prevalence of physical activity of men diagnosed with prostate cancer, such as Chipperfield et al.1818. Chipperfield K, Fletcher J, Millar J, Brooker J, Smith R, Frydenberg M, et al. Factors associated with adherence to physical activity guidelines in patients with prostate cancer. Psychooncology 2013;22(11):2478-2486., reported that only 41.9% of the participants met the recommendations of the National Guidelines for physical activity in Australia, which is based on 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per week. This low adherence to physical activity is justified in the study as a result of the treatment, the environment and the cancer itself1818. Chipperfield K, Fletcher J, Millar J, Brooker J, Smith R, Frydenberg M, et al. Factors associated with adherence to physical activity guidelines in patients with prostate cancer. Psychooncology 2013;22(11):2478-2486.. The men studied by Lynch et al.1919. Lynch BM, Dunstan DW, Winkler E, Healy GN, Eakin E, Owen N. Objectively assessed physical activity, sedentary time and waist circumference among prostate cancer survivors: findings from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2003-2006). Eur J Cancer Care 2011;20(4):514-519., who were assessed by accelerometer, presented themselves mostly as sedentary (69%), with low intensity activities (30%) and only 1% in moderate to vigorous physical activity.

Six studies showed results after interventions2525. Gerset GM, Fossa SD, Dahl AA, Loge JH, Ensby T, Thorsen L. Effects of a 1-week inpatient course including information, physical activity, and group sessions for prostate cancer patients. J Cancer Educ 2011;26(4):754-760

26. Herbert JR, Thomas GH, Brook EH, Heiney S, Hebert CJ, Steck SE. A diet, physical activity, and stress reduction intervention in men with rising prostate-specific antigen after treatment for prostate cancer. Cancer Detect Prev 2012;36(2), p.128-136, 2012.

27. Mungovan SF, Huijbers BP, Hirschhorn AD, Patal MI. Relationships between perioperative physical activity and urinary incontinence after radical prostatectomy: an observational study. BMC Urol 2013;13(1):67-76.

28. Reed SN, Robinson, JW, Lau H, Stephenson L, Keats M, Norris S, et al. Physical activity for men receiving androgen deprivation therapy for prostate cancer: benefits from a 16-week intervention. Support Care Cancer 2010;18(5):591- 599.

29. Taylor CL, Smith MA, Demoor C, Dunn AL, Pettaway C, Sellin R, et al. Quality of life intervention for prostate cancer patients: design and baseline characteristics of the active for life after cancer trial. Trials 2004;25(n):265-285, 2004.
-3030. Taylor CL, Demoor C, Smith MA, Dunn AL, Basen-Engquista K, Nielsen I, et al. Active for life after cancer: A randomized trial examining a lifestyle physical activity program for prostate cancer patients. Psychooncology 2006;15(n):847-862., with an average of 3 to 12 months and, in most cases, during the treatment or the post-treatment period. The interventions consisted mainly of proposals of mild to vigorous physical activity, and were mostly triggered by support groups or discussion on physical activity. As for the time required to obtain benefits, the studies emphasized the need of 30 minutes of moderate physical activity a day, for most days of the week2929. Taylor CL, Smith MA, Demoor C, Dunn AL, Pettaway C, Sellin R, et al. Quality of life intervention for prostate cancer patients: design and baseline characteristics of the active for life after cancer trial. Trials 2004;25(n):265-285, 2004.. Another study reported that patients who attended a one-week-intensive course, with a support group and physical activity sessions, lowered their levels of general fatigue, physical fatigue and anxiety2525. Gerset GM, Fossa SD, Dahl AA, Loge JH, Ensby T, Thorsen L. Effects of a 1-week inpatient course including information, physical activity, and group sessions for prostate cancer patients. J Cancer Educ 2011;26(4):754-760. Positive results were also found with support groups in educational debates on physical activity, in which the increase on physical activity was associated with a significant improvement in abdominal circumference, blood pressure, fatigue and depression in patients treated with ADT2828. Reed SN, Robinson, JW, Lau H, Stephenson L, Keats M, Norris S, et al. Physical activity for men receiving androgen deprivation therapy for prostate cancer: benefits from a 16-week intervention. Support Care Cancer 2010;18(5):591- 599..

In another aspect, studies showed that, despite reductions in fatigue and anxiety, interventions lasting only one week did not substantially influence on most health issues2525. Gerset GM, Fossa SD, Dahl AA, Loge JH, Ensby T, Thorsen L. Effects of a 1-week inpatient course including information, physical activity, and group sessions for prostate cancer patients. J Cancer Educ 2011;26(4):754-760, as seen in Taylor et al2929. Taylor CL, Smith MA, Demoor C, Dunn AL, Pettaway C, Sellin R, et al. Quality of life intervention for prostate cancer patients: design and baseline characteristics of the active for life after cancer trial. Trials 2004;25(n):265-285, 2004., in which after a 6-month intervention found no significant improvement in quality of life. However, in this same study, the intervention did not propose practical activities, only educational support groups and lifestyle incentives, which can be seen as a limiting factor. Similarly, another study that only had a support group did not present significant results in relation to physical activity in patients after clinical treatment of radiotherapy or radical prostatectomy2626. Herbert JR, Thomas GH, Brook EH, Heiney S, Hebert CJ, Steck SE. A diet, physical activity, and stress reduction intervention in men with rising prostate-specific antigen after treatment for prostate cancer. Cancer Detect Prev 2012;36(2), p.128-136, 2012..

According to the literature studied, the accumulation of 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per week together with walking are sufficient for a clear improvement in the quality of life of prostate cancer patients. It also improves vitality and decreases depressive symptoms, anxiety and other comorbidities1818. Chipperfield K, Fletcher J, Millar J, Brooker J, Smith R, Frydenberg M, et al. Factors associated with adherence to physical activity guidelines in patients with prostate cancer. Psychooncology 2013;22(11):2478-2486.,2323. Phillips SM, Stampfer MJ, Chan JM, Giovanucci EL, Kenfield SA. Physical activity, sedentary behavior, and health-related quality of life in prostate cancer survivors in the health professionals follow-up study. J Cancer Surviv 2015;9(3):500-511.. Resistive training should also be added along with educational group sessions on the benefits of physical activity, thus, suggesting that programs like this will lower public health costs and even improve the patients' quality of life.

Conclusion

When analyzing the studies that make up this review regarding physical activity and prostate cancer, we noticed the men's age range (over 60 years) as well as the presence of side effects due to the treatment (androgen deprivation therapy, radiotherapy or radical prostatectomy), due to their advanced age and the consequences of cancer in general. Investigations were more focused on physical activity with other variables, relating them positively to quality of life improvement. Positive results were observed in variables such as fatigue and sexual functioning, along with to the decrease in waist circumference and lower blood pressure. The importance of physical activities needs to be emphasized since it minimizes damages to health and improve the patients' quality of life. Further studies are necessary to investigate specific physical activities in longitudinal studies, at different times covering the diagnosis, the treatment, as well as the time to resume their previous activities. The studies should be based both in focus groups and in practical interventions through randomized clinical trials in order to substantiate the results of physical activity in the lives of men with prostate cancer.

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Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    2016

History

  • Received
    30 July 2015
  • Reviewed
    13 Oct 2015
  • Accepted
    02 Mar 2016
Universidade Estadual de Maringá Avenida Colombo, 5790 - cep: 87020-900 - tel: 44 3011 4315 - Maringá - PR - Brazil
E-mail: revdef@uem.br