Plain language summary
Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), is a rare genetic disease leading to a very high risk of developing colorectal cancer (CRC), with about half of all these patients developing cancer by the age of 40 years. Research has shown that exercise and physical fitness can reduce the risk of sporadic CRC. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to examine the relationship between physical fitness and CRC development in patients with FAP. 119 patients with FAP participated in the study and underwent an exercise stress test to determine physical fitness. The risk of CRC was significantly higher in those who were less physically fit. There was also a significant negative correlation between maximum polyp diameter and physical fitness. The authors conclude that physical fitness may play a role not only in the development of sporadic CRC, but also in cancer development in FAP. The mechanism by which physical fitness prevents the development of CRC and adenoma is largely unknown, but it is thought that improved insulin resistance and altered intestinal transit time may mediate the association.
Abstract
Although accumulated epidemiological evidence indicates that a good physical fitness level may prevent the development of sporadic colorectal cancer (CRC), few studies have examined the effect of physical fitness level on familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP). This cross-sectional study aimed to examine the relationship between physical fitness and CRC development in patients with FAP.A total of 119 patients (54 male; 65 female) with FAP, aged 17 to 73 years, underwent a step test to induce exercise stress. Predicted maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) was calculated for each patient by using heart rate as an index of physical fitness. The association of VO2max with the presence or absence of CRC and polyp diameter was examined. Patients with FAP were divided into 3 categories according to their VO2max (high, medium, and low). The association between maximum polyp size and VO2max among the patients with FAP without a history of colectomy was examined.The risk of CRC was significantly higher in the low VO2max group than in the high VO2max group (odds ratio = 4.07; 95% confidence interval, 1.02-16.26). The maximum polyp diameter was significantly negatively correlated with the VO2max among the patients with FAP without a history of colectomy (r = -.44, P = .01). In the multiple linear regression analysis, maximum polyp diameter was independently correlated with VO2max.Our results suggest a preventive association between physical fitness and CRC development or colorectal adenoma growth exists in patients with FAP.
Methodological quality
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