El día 4 de Febrero se celebra el día Mundial contra el cáncer. Según el American College of Sports Medicine, en Estados Unidos se estima que uno de cada tres será diagnosticado con un cáncer invasivo a lo largo de su vida. Una revisión sistemática abarcando cientos de estudios y varios millones de participantes nos explica la importancia del ejercicio en la prevención y el tratamiento del cáncer.
Los científicos muestran evidencia sólida de una asociación entre los niveles de actividad física y los riesgos de cáncer de vejiga, mama, colon, endometrio, esófago, renal y gástrico (y evidencia moderada o limitada con otros tipos de cáncer). Las reducciones de riesgo relativo oscilaron entre aproximadamente el 10% y el 20%.
La evidencia científica nos confirma los beneficios del ejercicio. El objetivo de todos debe ser cumplir por lo menos las recomendaciones mínimas que nos ayudarán a prevenir diferentes enfermedades y mantener nuestro cuerpo y mente más saludable.
Abstract original en inglés
Purpose This article reviews and updates the evidence on the associations between physical activity and risk for cancer, and for mortality in persons with cancer, as presented in the 2018 Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory Committee Scientific Report.
Methods Systematic reviews of meta-analyses, systematic reviews, and pooled analyses were conducted through December 2016. An updated systematic review of such reports plus original research through February 2018 was conducted. This article also identifies future research needs.
Results In reviewing 45 reports comprising hundreds of epidemiologic studies with several million study participants, the report found strong evidence for an association between highest versus lowest physical activity levels and reduced risks of bladder, breast, colon, endometrial, esophageal adenocarcinoma, renal, and gastric cancers. Relative risk reductions ranged from approximately 10% to 20%. Based on 18 systematic reviews and meta-analyses, the report also found moderate or limited associations between greater amounts of physical activity and decreased all-cause and cancer-specific mortality in individuals with a diagnosis of breast, colorectal, or prostate cancer, with relative risk reductions ranging almost up to 40% to 50%. The updated search, with five meta-analyses and 25 source articles reviewed, confirmed these findings.
Conclusions Levels of physical activity recommended in the 2018 Guidelines are associated with reduced risk and improved survival for several cancers. More research is needed to determine the associations between physical activity and incidence for less common cancers and associations with survival for other cancers. Future studies of cancer incidence and mortality should consider these associations for population subgroups, to determine dose–response relationships between physical activity and cancer risk and prognosis, and to establish mechanisms to explain these associations.
McTiernan, A. N. N. E., et al. "Physical Activity in Cancer Prevention and Survival: A Systematic Review." Medicine and science in sports and exercise 51.6 (2019): 1252-1261.