A Walking Intervention Among Men With Prostate Cancer: A Pilot Study.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to evaluate the feasibility and potential effectiveness of a walking group intervention in improving quality of life, cardiovascular biomarkers, and morbidity among men newly diagnosed with prostate cancer.
Results Summary
The walking group intervention was feasible, with high adherence and no dropouts. Participants showed significant improvements in high-density lipoprotein and suggestive improvements in low-density lipoprotein and systolic blood pressure compared to the usual care group.
Population
Men newly diagnosed with prostate cancer.
Effective Dosage
Weekly 1-hour walking group sessions and maintenance of 10,000 steps/day.
Duration
11 weeks.
Interactions
None mentioned.
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
walking group intervention | neutral | feasibility | men with newly diagnosed prostate cancer | - | is feasible | #1 |
walking group intervention | increase | cardiovascular health | men with recent diagnosis of prostate cancer | - | potentially effective in improving | #2 |
walking group intervention | increase | high-density lipoprotein | men with newly diagnosed prostate cancer | 0.14 mmol/L | had a significant adjusted mean change in | #3 |
walking group intervention | decrease | low-density lipoprotein | men with newly diagnosed prostate cancer | -0.22 mmol/L | had suggestive adjusted mean changes in | #4 |
walking group intervention | decrease | systolic blood pressure | men with newly diagnosed prostate cancer | -8.5 mm Hg | had suggestive adjusted mean changes in | #5 |
walking group intervention | decrease | weight loss | men with newly diagnosed prostate cancer | - | experienced similar | #6 |
BACKGROUND: Men diagnosed with prostate cancer have increased risk for disease progression, cardiovascular events, and impairments in quality of life. This pilot study evaluated the feasibility of a randomized walking group intervention to improve quality of life, circulating biomarkers, and morbidity among men with newly diagnosed prostate cancer. METHODS: Men were recruited at Örebro University Hospital, Sweden, and randomized to an 11-week walking group intervention (n = 21) or usual care (n = 20). The intervention included weekly 1-hour walking group sessions and maintenance of 10,000 steps/day. Outcomes were changes in body composition, clinical factors, biomarkers of cardiovascular health, and quality of life between baseline and end of study. Analysis of covariance was used to compare outcomes in each group adjusted for baseline values. RESULTS: All 41 men randomized completed the 11-week trial. Men assigned to the intervention walked on average 10,644 steps/day, and 92% reported missing 2 or fewer sessions. Both groups experienced similar weight loss at 11 weeks. Men in the intervention had a significant adjusted mean change in high-density lipoprotein of 0.14 mmol/L (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.01-0.27; P = .04), and suggestive adjusted mean changes in low-density lipoprotein of -0.22 mmol/L (95% CI, -0.47 to 0.03; P = .08) and in systolic blood pressure of -8.5 mm Hg (95% CI, -21.2 to 4.2; P = .18), compared with the usual care group. CONCLUSIONS: A walking group intervention among men with recent diagnosis of prostate cancer is feasible and potentially effective in improving cardiovascular health. A larger randomized trial of longer duration is required to elucidate its potential for improvement in longer term outcomes.