Skip to main content
. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2008 Apr 9.
Published in final edited form as: Int J Cancer. 2007 Dec 15;121(12):2776–2781. doi: 10.1002/ijc.23009

TABLE III.

RELATIVE RISKS OF COLON CANCER, 1986–2002, BY HOURS PER WEEK OF WALKING AND MODERATE OR VIGOROUS ACTIVITY IN 1986, NURSES’ HEALTH STUDY

Hours per week
p for trend1
0 <1 1–1.9 2–3.9 4+
All Colon Cancer
 Walking2
  Number of cases 59 87 47 31 41
  Age adjusted RR 1.00 (ref) 0.81 0.64 0.59 0.66
  95% CI 0.58–1.13 0.43–0.94 0.38–0.92 0.44–1.00
  Multivariate RR3 1.00 (ref) 0.85 0.69 0.64 0.73 0.17
  95% CI 0.61–1.19 0.47–1.03 0.41–1.00 0.48–1.10
 Moderate and vigorous activity4
  Number of cases 145 70 49 18
  Age adjusted RR 1.00 (ref) 0.85 0.72 0.54
  95% CI 0.63–1.13 0.52–1.01 0.32–0.91
  Multivariate RR3 1.00 (ref) 0.85 0.74 0.56 0.01
  95% CI 0.64–1.14 0.53–1.04 0.33–0.94
Distal colon cancer
 Walking2
  Number of cases 27 46 19 18 14
  Age adjusted RR 1.00 (ref) 0.92 0.58 0.77 0.51
  95% CI 0.57–1.50 0.32–1.05 0.42–1.42 0.26–0.98
  Multivariate RR3 1.00 (ref) 0.96 0.61 0.81 0.54 0.07
  95% CI 0.59–1.56 0.34–1.11 0.44–1.50 0.28–1.06
 Moderate and vigorous activity4
  Number of cases 61 36 17 7
  Age adjusted RR 1.00 (ref) 1.09 0.62 0.49
  95% CI 0.72–1.65 0.36–1.07 0.21–1.12
  Multivariate RR3,5 1.00 (ref) 1.10 0.63 0.51 0.04
  95% CI 0.73–1.66 0.36–1.10 0.22–1.17
Proximal Colon Cancer
 Walking2
  Number of cases 32 41 28 13 27
  Age adjusted RR 1.00 (ref) 0.72 0.68 0.44 0.79
  95% CI 0.45–1.14 0.41–1.14 0.23–0.86 0.47–1.33
  Multivariate RR3 1.00 (ref) 0.76 0.77 0.49 0.89 0.84
  95% CI 0.48–1.22 0.46–1.30 0.25–0.97 0.52–1.51
 Moderate and vigorous activity4
  Number of cases 85 34 32 10
  Age adjusted RR 1.00 (ref) 0.67 0.80 0.59
  95% CI 0.45–1.02 0.53–1.22 0.30–1.13
  Multivariate RR3 1.00 (ref) 0.73 0.73 0.53 0.12
  95% CI 0.42–1.27 0.40–1.34 0.21–1.33
1

Test for trend was calculated by use of the median of each hours per week category as a continuous variable in the multiple regression model. p-values are two-sided.

2

Analyses restricted to women whose only reported activity is walking.

3

Adjusted for age, body mass index, smoking, multivitamin, aspirin, alcohol intake, red meat intake, vitamin D, calcium, family history of colon cancer, history of endoscopy, and history of polyps.

4

Analyses restricted to women reporting some moderate or vigorous intensity activity other than walking.

5

Adjusted for age, body mass index, smoking, multivitamin, aspirin, alcohol intake, red meat intake, vitamin D, calcium, family history of colon cancer, history of endoscopy in women without a history of polyps.