Racial, Ethnic, and Socioeconomic Disparities in Meeting Physical Activity Guidelines among Female Breast Cancer Survivors in the United States

Abstract

Background: Cancer survivors show low physical activity participation rates in the U.S. However, there are limited national-level data on disparities in the prevalence of meeting physical activity guidelines among women with and without breast cancer. We aimed to evaluate national-level trends in meeting physical activity guidelines across demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of breast cancer survivors and women without cancer. Methods: Data for women aged ≥35-years with and without breast cancer were obtained from the 2004-2018 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). We used NHIS survey weights to generate national-level prevalence estimates and calculate absolute and relative indices of disparity for breast cancer survivors and women without cancer meeting aerobic (150-mins/week) and muscle strengthening guidelines (2-sessions/week) stratified by demographic (e.g., race/ethnicity) and socioeconomic (e.g., homeownership) characteristics. Results: We included 5,845 breast cancer survivors and 160,162 women without cancer. The weighted percentage of breast cancer survivors meeting aerobic guidelines was 37.7% compared to 40.9% of women without cancer. Fewer women met muscle strengthening guidelines. There were lower proportions of women who were younger (<50-years), were non-Hispanic Black, were Hispanic, worked 35+ hours/week, or rented their home among breast cancer survivors meeting aerobic guidelines compared to women without cancer meeting aerobic guidelines. Conclusions: Breast cancer survivors were less likely to meet physical activity guidelines compared to women without cancer. Demographic and socioeconomic disparities may exist among breast cancer survivors and women without cancer meeting physical activity guidelines. Impact: Targeted interventions may be necessary to address low physical activity participation among breast cancer survivors.