According to a new study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, higher cardiorespiratory fitness could reduce the risk of lung cancer incidence in former smokers.
The study also found that improved cardiorespiratory fitness could reduce the risk of lung cancer morbidity and mortality in patients who smoke.
Baruch Vainshelboim from Saint Francis University in Loretto, Pennsylvania, and other researchers analyzed the association between cardiorespiratory fitness and lung cancer incidence along with its mortality rate among former and current smokers.
The researchers measured their cardiorespiratory fitness by using treadmill exercise testing.
They identified that of 99 patients, who were diagnosed with lung cancer, 79 died from cancer 3.6 years after receiving the diagnosis.
They found that 1-metabolic equivalent (1-MET) increase and a moderate to high cardiorespiratory fitness were associated with reductions in lung cancer incidence among former smokers.
They also found that 1-MET increase and a moderate to high cardiorespiratory fitness were associated with reductions in cancer morbidity and mortality among current smokers who were later found to have lung cancer. The study authors wrote, “Screening for low cardiorespiratory fitness and achieving at least moderate cardiorespiratory fitness could potentially reduce lung cancer morbidity and mortality, providing a preventive strategy for smokers.”
