Estimates of walking prevalence and volume for U.S. cancer survivors and those without cancer: overall, by sex, and by race and ethnicity

Purpose: This paper estimated overall, by sex, and by race and ethnicity walking behaviors in the cancer survivor population, where prevalence is not known, compared to those without cancer.

Methods: Data from the 2015 and 2020 National Health Interview Survey (n = 54,542) were used to estimate walking behaviors. Multivariable logistic regression models estimated walking behavior prevalence with predictive margins and volume of weekly minutes overall and stratified by sex and race/ethnicity. Walking behaviors for breast and prostate cancer survivors were also examined.

Results: There were no significant differences in adjusted prevalence for walking behaviors overall or by race/ethnicity for women. However, there were significant differences for men, with cancer survivors' any reported walking at 62.6% (95% CI: 60.1, 65.4) compared to men without cancer, 65.9% (95% CI: 65.1%, 66.8%) (p = 0.02). There was also a difference in transportation only walking for men, with cancer survivors reporting 6.8% (95% CI: 5.5%, 8.2%), compared to men without cancer, 9.1% (8.5%, 9.6%) (p = 0.008); a similar pattern was observed for transportation walking for non-Hispanic white men. There were no differences in walking prevalence among breast cancer survivors, but overall prostate cancer survivors reported less walking for both purposes as did non-Hispanic white survivors. Leisure walking volume for cancer survivors, both women and men, was higher than for those without cancer. Median leisure walking minutes for non-Hispanic white women, 120 min (95% CI: 120, 140) was higher than those without cancer, 105 min (95% CI: 105, 120) (p = 0.002). Median leisure walking minutes for non-Hispanic white men, 120 min (95% CI: 120, 140), was higher than those without cancer, 100 min (95% CI: 100, 105) (p = 0.001).

Conclusions: Overall, there are no significant differences in walking prevalence for women, but men cancer survivors reported less overall walking, walking for transportation, or walking for both purposes. However, volume of leisure walking was higher for cancer survivors compared to those without cancer.

Implications for cancer survivors: For cancer survivors, this suggests that even though prevalence of leisure walking was similar, volume of weekly minutes was higher compared to those without cancer. This suggests that for cancer survivors, leisure walking is an accessible and important source of physical activity.