Health Behavior and Quality of Life Outcome in Breast Cancer Survivors: Prevalence Rates and Predictors

• Published in: Clinical breast cancer 2018-02, Vol.18 (1), p.38-44
• Main Authors: Oberguggenberger, Anne, Meraner, Verena, Sztankay, Monika, Hilbert, Anja, Hubalek, Michael, Holzner, Bernhard, Gamper, Eva, Kemmler, Georg, Baumgartner, Teresa, Lackinger, Isabelle, Sperner-Unterweger, Barbara, Mangweth-Matzek, Barbara
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Alcohol Drinking - epidemiology; Alcohol Drinking - psychology; Austria - epidemiology; Breast Neoplasms - mortality; Breast Neoplasms - physiopathology; Breast Neoplasms - psychology; Cancer Survivors - psychology; Cancer Survivors - statistics & numerical data; Case-Control Studies; Consumption behavior; Eating disturbances; Exercise; Exercise - physiology; Feeding Behavior - physiology; Feeding Behavior - psychology; Female; General population reference sample; Health Behavior - physiology; Humans; Middle Aged; Obesity - epidemiology; Obesity - psychology; Patient Reported Outcome Measures; Quality of Life; Smoking - epidemiology; Smoking - psychology; Survivorship; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1526-8209; 1938-0666
• DOI: 10.1016/j.clbc.2017.09.008

Breast cancer survivors' health behavior has gained relevance in survivorship care. We conducted a patient-reported outcome study in 303 breast cancer survivors to investigate health behavior, including exercise, substance use, and eating behavior. Study results illustrate eating disturbances and overweight to be a considerable problem in breast cancer survivors. Care efforts should focus on the increase of patient knowledge regarding health behavior. Health behavior (HB) has been identified as contributing to breast cancer (BC) disease outcome. The present study was subjected to gain more in-depth insight into breast cancer survivors' (BCS) HB and its associations with patient quality of life (QOL) outcome. We investigated HB focusing on eating disturbances comparing the latter with a reference population sample (PS). The research cohort included 303 BCS completing a comprehensive patient-reported-outcome assessment on HB (eating disturbances, exercise, substance use) and QOL. Data from an age- and education-matched reference PS (n = 303) on eating disturbances were included. Overall, 30% of BCS were overweight; 11.7% of BCS (2-11 years after diagnosis, mean = 5.2 years) reported eating disturbances compared with 5% of PS (P < .05). Approximately three-fourths of BCS indicated they exercise regularly, one-fourth smoke regularly, and 30% consume alcohol. Lower consumption of analgesics and tranquilizers, higher frequency of exercise, lower eating concern (EDE-Q), younger age, and lower body mass index were significant predictors for better physical QOL. Lower eating and shape concern were next to age-identified predictive for better psychological QOL. Obesity and eating disturbances are a considerable HB problem in women with a history of BC. Considering that HB is predictive for long-term QOL in BCS, routine counseling on HB should be integrated into survivorship care to increase patient education and contribute to behavioral changes.