In 2020, 19.3 million new cancer cases were diagnosed, and almost 10 million deaths from cancer were recorded. Cancer patients may experience fatigue, depression, anxiety, reduced quality of life and sleep problems. Cancer treatments cause numerous side effects and have a negative impact on all body systems. Physical activity is important for cancer patients. The aim of this review is to analyse recent studies on the role of physical activity in cancer patients and emphasize its importance. The review included 36 papers published in English between 2017 and 2021. The findings from these studies show that physical activity decreases the severity of side effects of cancer treatment, reduces fatigue, improves quality of life, has a positive impact on mental health and improves aerobic fitness in cancer patients. Moreover, it reduces the risk of cancer recurrence and death. Physical activity is recommended for patients with any type of cancer and at all stages of treatment. The type of physical activity should depend on the condition of the individual patient. It is extremely difficult to determine what type, intensity and duration of physical activity is likely to have the greatest effect.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and arterial hypertension (AH) are closely linked disorders with common pathophysiological features. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between AH and OSA by examining sleep architecture, vitamin D concentration and electrolyte levels in patients with these coexisting conditions. A total of 133 patients suspected of having OSA were recruited for examination. The participants were divided into 2 groups: hypertensives (n = 52); and normotensives (n = 81). One full-night polysomnographic examinations were conducted, followed by the statistical analysis of the collected data. Hypertensive individuals displayed increased apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), oxygen desaturation index (ODI), respiratory arousal index (RAI), and periodic limb movement index (PLMI) as compared to non-hypertensive individuals. Moreover, sleep efficiency (SE), the bruxism arousal index (BAI) and oxygen saturation (SpO2) level were decreased in the hypertensive group. In terms of biochemical parameters, hypertensive individuals exhibited a lower magnesium (Mg) level, and higher levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), uric acid (UA) and glucose. Notably, there were no statistical differences in vitamin D concentration between hypertensive and normotensive individuals. The study explored the potential influence of calcium (Ca), Mg, vitamin D, and UA concentrations on the sleep architecture of patients with comorbid AH and OSA. The findings revealed several notable associations. Firstly, sleep fragmentation correlated with Ca level, suggesting a potential role for both Ca and vitamin D in sleep arousals. Secondly, a higher UA concentration was linked to a higher AHI and increased sleep fragmentation. Additionally, alterations in Mg concentration were observed among hypertensive individuals with OSA. However, further research is needed to fully comprehend the potential impact of these factors on the sleep architecture of hypertensive individuals with apnea.

Development of simple instruments for the determination of the level of adherence in patients with high blood pressure is the subject of ongoing research. One such instrument, gaining growing popularity worldwide, is the Hill-Bone Compliance to High Blood Pressure Therapy. The aim of this study was to adapt and to test the reliability of the Polish version of Hill-Bone Compliance to High Blood Pressure Therapy Scale. A standard guideline was used for the translation and cultural adaptation of the English version of the Hill-Bone Compliance to High Blood Pressure Therapy Scale into Polish. The study included 117 Polish patients with hypertension aged between 27 and 90 years, among them 53 men and 64 women. Cronbach’s alpha was used for analysing the internal consistency of the scale. The mean score in the reduced sodium intake subscale was M = 5.7 points (standard deviation SD = 1.6 points). The mean score in the appointment-keeping subscale was M = 3.4 points (standard deviation SD = 1.4 points). The mean score in the medication-taking subscale was M = 11.6 points (standard deviation SD = 3.3 points). In the principal component analysis, the three-factor system (1 – medication-taking, 2 – appointment-keeping, 3 – reduced sodium intake) accounted for 53 % of total variance. All questions had factor loadings > 0.4. The medication-taking subscale: most questions (6 out of 9) had the highest loadings with Factor 1. The appointment-keeping subscale: all questions (2 out of 2) had the highest loadings with Factor 2. The reduced sodium intake subscale: most questions (2 out of 3) had the highest loadings with Factor 3. Goodness of fit was tested at chi2 = 248.87; p < 0.001. The Cronbach’s alpha score for the entire questionnaire was 0.851. The Hill-Bone Compliance to High Blood Pressure Therapy Scale proved to be suitable for use in the Polish population. Use of this screening tool for the assessment of adherence to BP treatment is recommended.

Sleep research has garnered substantial interest among scientists owing to its correlation with various diseases, particularly elevated blood pressure observed in patients with obstructive sleep apnea. This systematic review aims to identify and analyze publications exploring the associations between sleep architecture and arterial hypertension. A comprehensive search of PubMed (MEDLINE), Scopus, and Embase databases yielded 111 reports, of which 7 manuscripts were included in the review. Four of the studies reported a significant reduction in the duration of the N3 phase of sleep in hypertensive patients, while 2 studies found a statistically significant reduction in the duration of the N2 and rapid eye movement (REM) stages of sleep. Three studies indicated increased sleep fragmentation in hypertensive patients. They showed a longer duration of the N1 stage of sleep, shorter duration of overall sleep time, and an increased apnea-hypopnea index in hypertensive patients. These findings underscore the association between the duration of non-REM/REM sleep stages and elevated BP, providing substantial evidence. Moreover, a notable increase in sleep fragmentation was observed among patients with hypertension. However, further research is warranted to expand and deepen our understanding of this intricate relationship. This systematic review serves as a valuable resource, guiding future investigations and contributing to advancements in the field of sleep and arterial hypertension.