Physical activity and risk of lung cancer

Physical activity has been proposed to decrease lung cancer risk; however, few data are available. Further, no studies have examined specific kinds and intensities of activities.

We conducted a prospective cohort study among 13 905 male Harvard University alumni (mean age, 58.3 years), free of cancer. Men reported their walking, stair climbing and participation in sports or recreation on baseline questionnaires in 1977, and the occurrence of lung cancer on follow-up questionnaires in 1988 and 1993. Death certificates were obtained for decedents through 1992 to determine lung cancers not previously reported.

During follow-up, 245 men developed lung cancer. Adjusting for age, cigarette smoking, and body mass index, the relative risks of lung cancer associated with <4200, 4200-8399, 8400-12 599 and > or =12 600 kJ/week of estimated energy expenditure at baseline were 1.00 (referent), 0.87 (95% CI: 0.64-1.18), 0.76 (95% CI: 0.52-1.11), and 0.61 (95% CI: 0.41-0.89), respectively; P trend = 0.0008. Similar trends were observed among non-smokers or former smokers in 1977 (82.7% of men) as well as among those who smoked >20 cigarettes a day in 1977 (8.0%), although the findings in the latter group were not statistically significant, possibly due to the small number. Walking, climbing stairs and participating in activities of at least moderate intensity (> or =4.5 MET, or multiples of resting metabolic rate) were each inversely associated with lung cancer risk, independent of the other activity components. However, light intensity activities (<4.5 MET) did not predict lung cancer risk.

These data indicate that physical activity may be associated with lower risk of lung cancer among men. An energy expenditure of 12 600 kJ/week, achievable by perhaps 6-8 hours of at least moderate intensity physical activity, may significantly lower risk. Further studies are required to confirm these observations.