Abstract C156: Association between physical activity and up-to-date cancer screening in a rural, primarily Hispanic border county

Background: Physical activity (PA) is important for the prevention of cancer. Additionally, those who engage in regular PA may have a greater sense of control over their health and engage in other preventive behaviors such as cancer screening. Understanding how PA may be associated with being up-to-date (UTD) on cancer screening among Hispanic/Latino communities along the US-Mexico border is particularly important, as these populations face unique barriers that may impact health behaviors including limited access to care and lower health literacy. In this study, we examined the associations between PA and UTD cancer screenings in a rural, primarily Hispanic/Latino US-Mexico border setting. Methods: In 2023, 5,000 Spanish/English study packets were mailed to an address-based sample in Imperial County, CA. Packets included an invitation/informed consent, survey booklet, business reply envelope, and incentive form. As part of the survey, participants were asked if and when they had received a Pap smear, colonoscopy or blood stool screening, or mammogram (as appropriate). Age- and sex-specific UTD screenings (yes vs. no) followed the US Preventive Services Task Force guidelines. Participants were also asked to report how many days in a typical week they engaged in moderate PA, which was dichotomized as “Low PA (0-2 days/week)” or “High PA (3-7 days/week).” A total of 303 surveys were returned by mail. Multivariable logistic regression models, adjusted for covariates, estimated odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the associations between PA and being UTD with cancer screenings. Results: Respondents had a mean age of 55±17 years, with the majority identifying as female (75%) and Hispanic/Latino (81%). Respondents reported engaging in PA a median of three days per week. Among screening-eligible individuals, 65% (n=115 of 176) were UTD with colorectal screening, 72% (n=101 of 140) were UTD with breast cancer screening, and 68% (n=98 of 144) were UTD with cervical cancer screening. Participants who engaged in high PA had lower odds of being UTD with colorectal cancer screening (OR=0.74, 95%CI=0.33, 1.66) and higher odds of being UTD with breast cancer (OR=1.23, 95%CI=0.48, 3.15) and cervical cancer (OR=1.40, 95%CI=0.64, 3.11). However, the associations were not statistically significant. Conclusion: PA was not statistically significantly associated with UTD cancer screenings suggesting that in rural communities, systemic barriers may have a greater impact on UTD cancer screening than individual behaviors like PA alone. Future research should explore these and other contextual factors to tailor effective and inclusive interventions aimed at promoting cancer screening. Citation Format: Savannah Shifflett, Corinne McDaniels-Davidson, Humberto Parada, Noe Crespo. Association between physical activity and up-to-date cancer screening in a rural, primarily Hispanic border county [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 18th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities; 2025 Sep 18-21; Baltimore, MD. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2025;34(9 Suppl):Abstract nr C156.