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The association between self-reported physical activity and prevalence of depression and anxiety disorder in long-term survivors of testicular cancer and men in a general population sample

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Abstract

Goals of work

Physical activity is claimed to have a beneficial influence on a person’s mental health, though its impact may be different in cancer patients and individuals in the general population. The objective of this cross-sectional study was (1) to estimate the associations between the level of self-reported physical activity as a lifestyle factor (LPA) and the prevalence of depression and anxiety disorder in testicular cancer survivors (TCSs) and in men of similar age from the general population (GenPop), and (2) to examine whether these associations differ in the two groups.

Patients and method

A total of 1260 TCSs and 20,207 men from the GenPop completed a questionnaire that assessed LPA, and depression and anxiety disorder on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS).

Main results

The prevalence of HADS-defined depression was lower among those who were physically active than in those who were physically inactive (TCSs 9% vs 17%, P<0.001; GenPop 8% vs 15%, P<0.001). Among physically inactive TCSs there was a trend towards higher a prevalence of HADS-defined anxiety disorder compared to physically active TCSs (P=0.07). In the GenPop this difference was statistically significant (P<0.001). Multivariate analysis confirmed the association between LPA and HADS-defined depression in both the TCSs [adjusted odds ratio (aOR)=0.56; 95% confidence interval (CI) (0.31, 1.02)] and the GenPop [aOR=0.58; 95% CI (0.51, 0.65)], but not the association between LPA and HADS-defined anxiety disorder. The associations between LPA and HADS-defined depression and HADS-defined anxiety disorder did not differ between the TCSs and the GenPop.

Conclusion

In both the TCSs and the GenPop, the prevalence of HADS-defined depression was higher among those who were physically inactive than among those who were physically active, with no intergroup difference. There was no association between LPA and prevalence of HADS-defined anxiety disorder in either of the groups after adjusting for background variables. Prospective studies are needed to allow causal inferences to be drawn.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Vigis Opperud, RN, and Siri Lothe Hess, RN, for assistance during the study and the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study (the HUNT Study) involving collaboration between the HUNT Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Verdal, the National Institute of Public Health, The Norwegian Screening Service of Norway, and Nord-Trøndelag County Council. This study was financed with the aid of EXSTA funds from the Norwegian Foundation for Health and Rehabilitation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Rehabilitation, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway

    Lene Thorsen

  2. Division of Epidemiology, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway

    Wenche Nystad & Hein Stigum

  3. Section of Oncology, Institute of Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway

    Olav Dahl

  4. Department of Oncology, St.Olav’s Hospital, Trondheim, Norway

    Olbjørn Klepp

  5. Department of Oncology, The Northern Norway University Hospital, Tromsø, Norway

    Roy M. Bremnes

  6. Department of Oncology, Ullevaal University Hospital, Oslo, Norway

    Erik Wist

  7. Department of Clinical Cancer Research, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway

    Sophie D. Fosså

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  1. Lene Thorsen
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  2. Wenche Nystad
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Correspondence to Lene Thorsen.

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Thorsen, L., Nystad, W., Stigum, H. et al. The association between self-reported physical activity and prevalence of depression and anxiety disorder in long-term survivors of testicular cancer and men in a general population sample. Support Care Cancer 13, 637–646 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-004-0769-0

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