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Physical Activity, Quality of Life, and the Moderating Role of Fatigue Among Older Breast Cancer Patients
Location: 26
Mentor: Dr. Michael Antoni
Physical activity is shown to improve quality of life (QoL) in breast cancer (BC) patients. However, fatigue, a common symptom in BC, is linked to poorer QoL, and its impact on the benefits of physical activity remains unclear. This study examines how fatigue moderates the relationship between physical activity and QoL.
Older (>50 years) nonmetastatic BC patients (N=109) were enrolled in a stress management trial in period after surgery and completed baseline measures on physical activity (Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly), fatigue (Fatigue Symptom Inventory), and QoL (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast). Linear regressions assessed whether fatigue moderated the relationship between physical activity and QoL.
As hypothesized, more physical activity predicted better QoL (B=0.08, SE=0.03, p=.017). Fatigue interference related to lower QoL, with physical activity showing a total effect of 0.078 at low fatigue interference and 0 at high interference. The interaction between fatigue interference and physical activity was trending (B=–0.002, SE=0.001, p=.072). Fatigue severity also showed a trend, with physical activity effects of 0.071 at low and 0.033 at high severity. The interaction between fatigue severity and physical activity was not significant (B=-0.002, SE=0.002, p=.315).
These findings suggest that greater physical activity improves QoL after breast cancer surgery, with fatigue interference and severity affecting QoL. Fatigue does not significantly moderate the relationship between physical activity and QoL. Promoting physical activity among older BC patients may help counteract fatigue. Future research should explore how the nature of physical activity influences this relationship.
