ASPO Abstracts
Clinical and demographic factors associated with follow-up in a hospital-based exercise oncology program
Category: Survivorship & Health Outcomes/Comparative Effectiveness Research
Conference Year: 2021
Abstract Body:
PURPOSE: To identify factors associated with returning for a follow-up assessment after participation
in Huntsman Cancer Institute's Exercise Oncology Program, (Personal Optimism With Exercise
Recovery, POWER). METHODS: Data were extracted from the electronic medical record and
exercise oncology program databases for patients who participated in POWER, between 2016-2019.
Clinical factors included body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, cancer type, cancer stage, and
recent cancer treatment history (surgery, radiation, immunotherapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy,
bimodal, and multimodal therapy). Recent treatment history was defined as occurrence within 12-
months of enrollment in POWER. Demographic factors included age, sex, ethnicity, race, and
residence in an urban or rural area. Binary logistic regressions were utilized to identify clinical and
demographic factors associated with not returning for follow-up. The cancer treatment and cancer
stage models were adjusted for BMI, age, sex, and urban/rural status. The cancer type model was
also adjusted for BMI, age, sex, urban/rural status, and number of recent cancer treatments.
RESULTS: Among 849 cancer patients (61.3±13.6 years; 62% females; 91% white; 95% non-
Hispanic) nearly 30% returned for a follow-up assessment, and the most prevalent cancer types in
this cohort were breast (34%), prostate (13%), and multiple myeloma (8%). The following clinical and
demographic factors were significantly associated with not returning for follow-up: male sex (OR 1.70,
95% CI 1.23,2.35), overweight BMI (25.00-29.99 kg/m^2; OR 1.62, 95% CI 1.11, 2.38), and greater
waist circumference (OR 1.01, 95% CI 1.00,1.02). In the model further adjusted for cancer type, only
multiple myeloma (OR 2.25; 95% CI 1.03,4.89) and endometrial cancer (OR 0.40, 95% CI 0.17,0.95)
were associated with not returning for follow-up assessments. No other factors (unadjusted or
adjusted) were significantly associated with not returning for follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Male sex,
overweight BMI, waist circumference, and cancer type may indicate survivors who are less likely to
return for follow-up assessments in a hospital-based exercise oncology program. Findings may
facilitate interventions to encourage follow-up and promote exercise engagement.
Keywords: exercise oncology survivorship