The purpose of this study is to better understand the relationship between physical activity and metabolic syndrome in postmenopausal breast cancer patients. Our primary aim is to investigate the relationship between device-measured physical activity patterns and the presence of metabolic syndrome components (i.e., altered body composition, insulin resistance, hypertension, and dyslipidemia) in postmenopausal women with breast cancer. A secondary aim is to investigate the dose-response relationship between physical activity intensity and these components.
Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the UK and is most commonly diagnosed in women who have been through menopause. Postmenopausal women are also at an increased risk of developing metabolic syndrome, defined as the coexistence of conditions that increase cardiovascular disease risk (elevated waist circumference, triglycerides, blood pressure, fasting glucose, and reduced HDL-cholesterol).
The presence of metabolic syndrome influences metabolic changes – obesity, diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidaemia – which are associated with increased breast cancer risk, aggressive tumour biology, risk of nonresponse to chemotherapy treatment, and increased risks of recurrence and mortality.
The clinical components of metabolic syndrome can be altered by physical activity, including improvements in insulin sensitivity, lipid profiles, blood pressure and body composition in women with breast cancer and other settings. Furthermore, Physical activity can also have a preventative effect against the development of MetS.
Research focusing on exercise for postmenopausal breast cancer is limited and has not been thoroughly studied in the UK Biobank.
