Atividade física e ocorrência de câncer colorretal: um estudo de caso-controle no município de Pelotas

Abstract

Introduction: Neoplasms are currently one of the main prevalent public health problems. Specifically, colorectal cancer (CRC) presents high incidence in Brazil. Treatment of the disease consists in assisting the immune system in the defense of malignant cells, and exercise can also help in preventing cancer. In search of risk factors for CRC, research has obtained consistent data on inadequate diet, physical inactivity, obesity, alcohol and smoking, but it has not been possible to find Brazilian data on the history of physical activity among patients diagnosed with CRC. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether physical activity (PA) during the lifespan can influence the chance of developing the disease. Methods: A case-control study was carried out. Cases were recruited from cancer centers in Pelotas - Brazil. For each case we had two controls, recruited at the same health center as the cases. Both groups were age-matched (± 5 years), altogether 82 cases and 165 controls participated in the study. Results: Crude and adjusted analyzes showed that PA, in its four domains and total, performed throughout life were not associated with the outcome. Conclusion:Conclusion: Our results were mostly contrary to those found in the literature regarding PA, and possible explanations would be the profile of physical activity in the population studied, the characteristics of occupational physical activity and the sample size. However, this study may serve to assist future interventions aimed at protecting PA against chronic noncommunicable diseases, such as cancer.