Accelerometer-derived concentrated physical activity pattern and mortality in cancer survivors: the UK Biobank accelerometry study

J Natl Cancer Inst. 2026 Jan 1;118(1):170-174. doi: 10.1093/jnci/djaf146.

Abstract

Although reduced mortality associated with moderate-to-vigorous physical activity has been reported among cancer survivors, the benefits of a concentrated physical activity pattern remain unclear. This prospective cohort study included 6075 cancer survivors from the UK Biobank accelerometry dataset: 2390 (39.3%) were inactive (<150 minutes/week), 1295 (21.3%) were active concentrated (≥150 minutes/week and achieved ≥50% total moderate-to-vigorous physical activity within 1-2 days), and 2390 (39.3%) were active regular (≥150 minutes/week but other than concentrated). After a median follow-up of 8 years (interquartile range [IQR] = 7.5 to 8.5 years), 634 deaths occurred. Active concentrated and regular patterns were associated with similar reduced all-cause mortality (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.72, 95% CI = 0.60 to 0.86; HR = 0.71, 95% CI = 0.56 to 0.89) and noncancer mortality (HR = 0.66, 95% CI = 0.47 to 0.92; HR = 0.56, 95% CI = 0.35 to 0.89). These findings highlight the concentrated physical activity pattern as a lifestyle intervention for cancer survivors.

MeSH terms

  • Accelerometry* / methods
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Biological Specimen Banks
  • Cancer Survivors* / statistics & numerical data
  • Exercise*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasms* / mortality
  • Prospective Studies
  • UK Biobank
  • United Kingdom / epidemiology