Exploring Predictors of Self-Perceived Cardiorespiratory 
Fitness ≥ 5 Years Beyond Breast Cancer Diagnosis: 
A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract Background/Objectives: This study aimed to examine the association between self-perceived cardiorespiratory fitness and health outcomes in long-term breast cancer survivors (LTBCSs) and identify possible predictors in women at least 5 years post-diagnosis. Methods: A cross-sectional study w...

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Autores: Álvarez-Salvago, Francisco, Figueroa-Mayordomo, Maria, Molina-García, Cristina, Atienzar-Aroca, Sandra, Pujol-Fuentes, Clara, Jiménez-García, José Daniel, Ching-López, Rosario, Medina-Luque, Jose
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2025
País:España
Institución:Ajuntament de Barcelona
Repositorio:RUJA. Repositorio Institucional de la Producción Científica de la Universidad de Jaén
OAI Identifier:oai:dnet:ruja________::9733df3571005a0eb9b326699839ee2f
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10953/7731
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:exercise oncology
health-related quality of life
long-term survivorship
perceived physical fitness
rehabilitation
616-006.04:618.19-036.8:796.012.1:612.17
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spelling Exploring Predictors of Self-Perceived Cardiorespiratory 
Fitness ≥ 5 Years Beyond Breast Cancer Diagnosis: 
A Cross-Sectional StudyÁlvarez-Salvago, FranciscoFigueroa-Mayordomo, MariaMolina-García, CristinaAtienzar-Aroca, SandraPujol-Fuentes, ClaraJiménez-García, José DanielChing-López, RosarioMedina-Luque, Joseexercise oncologyhealth-related quality of lifelong-term survivorshipperceived physical fitnessrehabilitation616-006.04:618.19-036.8:796.012.1:612.17Abstract Background/Objectives: This study aimed to examine the association between self-perceived cardiorespiratory fitness and health outcomes in long-term breast cancer survivors (LTBCSs) and identify possible predictors in women at least 5 years post-diagnosis. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out involving 80 LTBCSs, divided into three groups according to their self-reported cardiorespiratory fitness levels: very poor/poor (1-2), average (3), and good/very good (4-5). Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected, and this study analyzed variables measured at least five years after diagnosis, focusing on various factors including physical fitness, physical activity (PA) levels, cancer-related fatigue (CRF), mood, pain, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). ANOVA, Mann-Whitney U, and chi-square tests were performed, along with correlation and multiple regression analyses. Cohen's d was used to calculate effect sizes. Results: Among the 80 LTBCSs, 35% reported very poor/poor self-perceived cardiorespiratory fitness, 35% reported average levels, and 30% reported good/very good levels. Individuals with lower self-perceived cardiorespiratory fitness levels showed significant declines in physical fitness, greater physical inactivity, increased CRF, higher pain levels, and a poorer HRQoL (p < 0.05). Regression analysis identified "self-perceived muscle strength" (β = 0.40; p < 0.01) and "nausea and vomiting" (β = -0.37; p < 0.01) as significant predictors of higher self-perceived cardiorespiratory fitness (adjusted r2 = 0.472). Conclusions: These findings highlight the importance of self-perceived cardiorespiratory fitness as a relevant indicator of health outcomes in LTBCSs. Given its association with physical fitness, sedentary behavior, CRF, pain, and HRQoL, assessing patients' perceptions may provide valuable insights for developing tailored rehabilitation strategies. Future interventions should consider both subjective and objective measures to optimize the long-term health and quality of life in this population. Keywords: exercise oncology; health-related quality of life; long-term survivorship; perceived physical fitness; rehabilitation.MDPI ST ALBAN-ANLAGE 66, CH-4052 BASEL, SWITZERLAND202620262025info:eu-repo/semantics/articleinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersionapplication/pdfhttps://hdl.handle.net/10953/7731reponame:RUJA. Repositorio Institucional de la Producción Científica de la Universidad de Jaéninstname:Ajuntament de BarcelonaInglésHealthcareCC0 1.0 Universalhttp://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessoai:dnet:ruja________::9733df3571005a0eb9b326699839ee2f2026-06-24T12:41:07Z
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Exploring Predictors of Self-Perceived Cardiorespiratory 
Fitness ≥ 5 Years Beyond Breast Cancer Diagnosis: 
A Cross-Sectional Study
title Exploring Predictors of Self-Perceived Cardiorespiratory 
Fitness ≥ 5 Years Beyond Breast Cancer Diagnosis: 
A Cross-Sectional Study
spellingShingle Exploring Predictors of Self-Perceived Cardiorespiratory 
Fitness ≥ 5 Years Beyond Breast Cancer Diagnosis: 
A Cross-Sectional Study
Álvarez-Salvago, Francisco
exercise oncology
health-related quality of life
long-term survivorship
perceived physical fitness
rehabilitation
616-006.04:618.19-036.8:796.012.1:612.17
title_short Exploring Predictors of Self-Perceived Cardiorespiratory 
Fitness ≥ 5 Years Beyond Breast Cancer Diagnosis: 
A Cross-Sectional Study
title_full Exploring Predictors of Self-Perceived Cardiorespiratory 
Fitness ≥ 5 Years Beyond Breast Cancer Diagnosis: 
A Cross-Sectional Study
title_fullStr Exploring Predictors of Self-Perceived Cardiorespiratory 
Fitness ≥ 5 Years Beyond Breast Cancer Diagnosis: 
A Cross-Sectional Study
title_full_unstemmed Exploring Predictors of Self-Perceived Cardiorespiratory 
Fitness ≥ 5 Years Beyond Breast Cancer Diagnosis: 
A Cross-Sectional Study
title_sort Exploring Predictors of Self-Perceived Cardiorespiratory 
Fitness ≥ 5 Years Beyond Breast Cancer Diagnosis: 
A Cross-Sectional Study
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Álvarez-Salvago, Francisco
Figueroa-Mayordomo, Maria
Molina-García, Cristina
Atienzar-Aroca, Sandra
Pujol-Fuentes, Clara
Jiménez-García, José Daniel
Ching-López, Rosario
Medina-Luque, Jose
author Álvarez-Salvago, Francisco
author_facet Álvarez-Salvago, Francisco
Figueroa-Mayordomo, Maria
Molina-García, Cristina
Atienzar-Aroca, Sandra
Pujol-Fuentes, Clara
Jiménez-García, José Daniel
Ching-López, Rosario
Medina-Luque, Jose
author_role author
author2 Figueroa-Mayordomo, Maria
Molina-García, Cristina
Atienzar-Aroca, Sandra
Pujol-Fuentes, Clara
Jiménez-García, José Daniel
Ching-López, Rosario
Medina-Luque, Jose
author2_role author
author
author
author
author
author
author
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv exercise oncology
health-related quality of life
long-term survivorship
perceived physical fitness
rehabilitation
616-006.04:618.19-036.8:796.012.1:612.17
topic exercise oncology
health-related quality of life
long-term survivorship
perceived physical fitness
rehabilitation
616-006.04:618.19-036.8:796.012.1:612.17
description Abstract Background/Objectives: This study aimed to examine the association between self-perceived cardiorespiratory fitness and health outcomes in long-term breast cancer survivors (LTBCSs) and identify possible predictors in women at least 5 years post-diagnosis. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out involving 80 LTBCSs, divided into three groups according to their self-reported cardiorespiratory fitness levels: very poor/poor (1-2), average (3), and good/very good (4-5). Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected, and this study analyzed variables measured at least five years after diagnosis, focusing on various factors including physical fitness, physical activity (PA) levels, cancer-related fatigue (CRF), mood, pain, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). ANOVA, Mann-Whitney U, and chi-square tests were performed, along with correlation and multiple regression analyses. Cohen's d was used to calculate effect sizes. Results: Among the 80 LTBCSs, 35% reported very poor/poor self-perceived cardiorespiratory fitness, 35% reported average levels, and 30% reported good/very good levels. Individuals with lower self-perceived cardiorespiratory fitness levels showed significant declines in physical fitness, greater physical inactivity, increased CRF, higher pain levels, and a poorer HRQoL (p < 0.05). Regression analysis identified "self-perceived muscle strength" (β = 0.40; p < 0.01) and "nausea and vomiting" (β = -0.37; p < 0.01) as significant predictors of higher self-perceived cardiorespiratory fitness (adjusted r2 = 0.472). Conclusions: These findings highlight the importance of self-perceived cardiorespiratory fitness as a relevant indicator of health outcomes in LTBCSs. Given its association with physical fitness, sedentary behavior, CRF, pain, and HRQoL, assessing patients' perceptions may provide valuable insights for developing tailored rehabilitation strategies. Future interventions should consider both subjective and objective measures to optimize the long-term health and quality of life in this population. Keywords: exercise oncology; health-related quality of life; long-term survivorship; perceived physical fitness; rehabilitation.
publishDate 2025
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2025
2026
2026
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/article
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
format article
status_str publishedVersion
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv https://hdl.handle.net/10953/7731
url https://hdl.handle.net/10953/7731
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv Inglés
language_invalid_str_mv Inglés
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv Healthcare
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv CC0 1.0 Universal
http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
rights_invalid_str_mv CC0 1.0 Universal
http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
dc.format.none.fl_str_mv application/pdf
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv MDPI ST ALBAN-ANLAGE 66, CH-4052 BASEL, SWITZERLAND
publisher.none.fl_str_mv MDPI ST ALBAN-ANLAGE 66, CH-4052 BASEL, SWITZERLAND
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv reponame:RUJA. Repositorio Institucional de la Producción Científica de la Universidad de Jaén
instname:Ajuntament de Barcelona
instname_str Ajuntament de Barcelona
reponame_str RUJA. Repositorio Institucional de la Producción Científica de la Universidad de Jaén
collection RUJA. Repositorio Institucional de la Producción Científica de la Universidad de Jaén
repository.name.fl_str_mv
repository.mail.fl_str_mv
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