Jensen MT, et al. - The link between cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and death from cancer and any cause underwent an appraisal, with 42 years and 44 years of follow–up, respectively. A highly, prominently inverse correlation was exhibited between CRF with death from cancer and all–cause mortality. Such correlations were robust for the exclusion of individuals dying within 20 years of study inclusion. Hence, a minimal influence of reverse causation was indicated.

Methods

• The enrollment consisted of middle-aged, employed and cancer-free Danish men from the prospective Copenhagen Male Study in 1970-1971.
• An estimation was pursued of the CRF (maximal oxygen consumption (VO₂max)) via a bicycle ergometer test and analysed in multivariable Cox models including conventional risk factors, social class and self-reported physical activity.
• Death from cancer and all-cause mortality was investigated through the Danish national registers.
• Follow-up was 100% complete.

Results

• 5131 men were recruited, mean (SD) age 48.8 (5.4) years. During 44 years of follow-up, 4486 individuals died (87.4%), 1527 (29.8%) from cancer.
• CRF was highly notably, inversely related to death from cancer and all-cause mortality ((HR (95% CI)) 0.83 (0.77 to 0.90) and 0.89 (0.85 to 0.93) per 10 mL/kg/min increase in estimated VO₂max, respectively), in multivariable models.
• There appeared to be a similar link across specific cancer groups, with the exception of death from prostate cancer (1.00 (0.82 to 1.2); p=0.97; n=231).
• The association between CRF and outcomes was unchanged after excluding subjects dying within 10 years (n=377) and 20 years (n=1276) of inclusion.