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Aim <p>Breast cancer remains the most common cancer among women and is linked to persistent frailty symptoms such as fatigue, falls, and dizziness, which impact survivors’ quality of life. Regular moderate or vigorous physical activity can reduce these symptoms. The aim of this research was to analyze the association between the frequency of moderate and vigorous physical activity and the presence and number of frailty symptoms in European women aged 50–85&#xa0;years with a history of breast cancer.</p> Subject and methods <p>This cross-sectional study used data from Wave 9 of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). A total of 794 women aged 50–85 with a diagnosis of breast cancer were selected. Sociodemographic, biopsychosocial, and lifestyle variables (frequency of moderate and vigorous physical activity) were analyzed. Frailty symptoms included falls, fear of falling, dizziness/fainting, and fatigue. Chi-square tests and Cramér’s V were used to assess associations between physical activity frequency and frailty symptoms. Multivariate binary logistic regression and Poisson regression were used to identify predictors of the presence of frailty and their number of frailty symptoms.</p> Results <p>A total of 61% of the participants reported at least one frailty symptom, with fatigue (43%) being the most common. Moderate and vigorous physical activity were significantly associated with the presence and number of frailty symptoms (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.001). Women who engaged in physical activity more than once a week showed a lower prevalence of all symptoms. Depression (odds ratio [OR] = 4.01), long-term illness (OR = 2.84), and never or rarely performing vigorous physical activity (OR = 1.93) were the strongest predictors of having at least one frailty symptom. Poisson regression confirmed these factors, along with never or rarely performing moderate physical activity, age, loneliness, and body mass index (BMI), as significantly associated with a higher number of symptoms.</p> Conclusion <p>Lower frequencies of moderate and vigorous physical activity are significantly associated with higher prevalence and number of frailty symptoms among breast cancer survivors aged 50–85. Promoting safe and tailored physical activity in this population, while addressing specific barriers such as kinesiophobia, may reduce frailty burden and improve long-term outcomes.</p>

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Frailty-related symptoms and the frequency of moderate and vigorous physical activity in European women with breast cancer: a cross-sectional study

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年5月15日

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  • Juan Manuel Franco-García,
  • Damián Pereira-Payo,
  • Ángel Denche-Zamorano,
  • Diana Salas-Gómez

摘要

Aim

Breast cancer remains the most common cancer among women and is linked to persistent frailty symptoms such as fatigue, falls, and dizziness, which impact survivors’ quality of life. Regular moderate or vigorous physical activity can reduce these symptoms. The aim of this research was to analyze the association between the frequency of moderate and vigorous physical activity and the presence and number of frailty symptoms in European women aged 50–85 years with a history of breast cancer.

Subject and methods

This cross-sectional study used data from Wave 9 of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). A total of 794 women aged 50–85 with a diagnosis of breast cancer were selected. Sociodemographic, biopsychosocial, and lifestyle variables (frequency of moderate and vigorous physical activity) were analyzed. Frailty symptoms included falls, fear of falling, dizziness/fainting, and fatigue. Chi-square tests and Cramér’s V were used to assess associations between physical activity frequency and frailty symptoms. Multivariate binary logistic regression and Poisson regression were used to identify predictors of the presence of frailty and their number of frailty symptoms.

Results

A total of 61% of the participants reported at least one frailty symptom, with fatigue (43%) being the most common. Moderate and vigorous physical activity were significantly associated with the presence and number of frailty symptoms (p < 0.001). Women who engaged in physical activity more than once a week showed a lower prevalence of all symptoms. Depression (odds ratio [OR] = 4.01), long-term illness (OR = 2.84), and never or rarely performing vigorous physical activity (OR = 1.93) were the strongest predictors of having at least one frailty symptom. Poisson regression confirmed these factors, along with never or rarely performing moderate physical activity, age, loneliness, and body mass index (BMI), as significantly associated with a higher number of symptoms.

Conclusion

Lower frequencies of moderate and vigorous physical activity are significantly associated with higher prevalence and number of frailty symptoms among breast cancer survivors aged 50–85. Promoting safe and tailored physical activity in this population, while addressing specific barriers such as kinesiophobia, may reduce frailty burden and improve long-term outcomes.