Body mass index, physical activity and quality of life of ovarian cancer survivors: time to get moving?
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the association between body mass index (BMI), physical activity (PA) and the quality of life (QoL) of ovarian cancer survivors.


METHODS
We performed a two-centre cross-sectional study of women who had been treated for ovarian cancer between January 2007 and December 2014 at the Royal Cornwall Hospital Trust and the Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust. QoL was assessed using the EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ-OV28 questionnaires, and PA using the Godin Leisure Time Exercise questionnaire.


RESULTS
In total, 293 ovarian cancer survivors were invited to participate, of which 209 women (71.3%) responded. Thirty-five percent of women were overweight and 18% were obese, whilst only 21% met recommendations for PA. Obesity was associated with significantly poorer global QoL, physical, cognitive and social functioning, a poorer body image and more symptomatology. Sedentary behaviour was associated with poorer QoL scores including global QoL, physical, role, social and sexual functioning. After adjustment, BMI and PA both remained independently associated with QoL scores.


CONCLUSIONS
Obesity and inactivity are associated with poorer QoL among ovarian cancer survivors. Future interventions promoting PA and weight loss should be evaluated as possible means to improve the QoL of this population.
Royal Cornwall Hospital Trust, Truro, Cornwall, United Kingdom.
Anke
A
Smits
Radboud UMC, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Eline
E
Smits
Royal Cornwall Hospital Trust, Truro, Cornwall, United Kingdom.
Alberto
A
Lopes
Royal Cornwall Hospital Trust, Truro, Cornwall, United Kingdom.
Nagindra
N
Das
Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust, Plymouth, Devon, United Kingdom.
Geoffrey
G
Hughes
Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust, Plymouth, Devon, United Kingdom.
Ahmed
A
Talaat
European Centre for the Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter Medical School, Truro, Cornwall, UK.
Adam
A
Pollard
Radboud UMC, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Frederique
F
Bouwman
Radboud UMC, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Leon
L
Massuger
Radboud UMC, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Ruud
R
Bekkers
Royal Cornwall Hospital Trust, Truro, Cornwall, United Kingdom. Electronic address: khadra.galaal@rcht.cornwall.nhs.uk.
Khadra
K
Galaal
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D011788:Quality of Life; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
Body mass index; Ovarian cancer; Physical activity; Quality of life; Survivorship