Juhua Luo1, Stephen J Carter2,3, Elizabeth M Cespedes Feliciano4, Michael Hendryx5. 1. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA. juhluo@indiana.edu. 2. Department of Kinesiology, School of Public Health, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA. 3. Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, Indianapolis, IS, 46202, USA. 4. Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, 2000 Broadway, Oakland, CA, 94612, USA. 5. Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Aging associated with progressive declines in physical function is well-known; however, it is unclear how breast cancer diagnosis affects the trajectories of physical function over a long period of time. The current study examined the trajectories in objective measures of physical function over 20 years for women with breast cancer and matched controls. METHODS: 2712 community-dwelling women (452 breast cancer cases and 1:5 matched cancer-free controls) aged 65 years or older at baseline (1986-1988) within the Study of Osteoporotic Fractures were followed for 20 years. Objective physical function was assessed up to 9 times, including hand grip strength, timed chair stand, gait speed and quadriceps strength. Linear mixed models were used to model physical function changes in terms of secular time trend, group (cases or controls), period (pre-and post-diagnosis status), and their interaction terms. RESULTS: We observed all measures of physical function declined over time. While no differences in trends between cases and controls during the pre-diagnosis period were observed, after cancer diagnosis, grip strength and gait speed declined significantly faster in cases than controls. Quadriceps strength significantly decreased ~ 7 pounds shortly after breast cancer diagnosis, and then improved over time. CONCLUSION: Our study revealed that older breast cancer survivors relative to older women without cancer had significantly worse declines in grip strength and gait speed. Breast cancer survivors also had a sharp, short-term drop followed by gradual improvement over time in quadriceps strength. These findings suggest exercise training targeting muscle strength and mobility would be beneficial among older breast cancer survivors.
PURPOSE: Aging associated with progressive declines in physical function is well-known; however, it is unclear how breast cancer diagnosis affects the trajectories of physical function over a long period of time. The current study examined the trajectories in objective measures of physical function over 20 years for women with breast cancer and matched controls. METHODS: 2712 community-dwelling women (452 breast cancer cases and 1:5 matched cancer-free controls) aged 65 years or older at baseline (1986-1988) within the Study of Osteoporotic Fractures were followed for 20 years. Objective physical function was assessed up to 9 times, including hand grip strength, timed chair stand, gait speed and quadriceps strength. Linear mixed models were used to model physical function changes in terms of secular time trend, group (cases or controls), period (pre-and post-diagnosis status), and their interaction terms. RESULTS: We observed all measures of physical function declined over time. While no differences in trends between cases and controls during the pre-diagnosis period were observed, after cancer diagnosis, grip strength and gait speed declined significantly faster in cases than controls. Quadriceps strength significantly decreased ~ 7 pounds shortly after breast cancer diagnosis, and then improved over time. CONCLUSION: Our study revealed that older breast cancer survivors relative to older women without cancer had significantly worse declines in grip strength and gait speed. Breast cancer survivors also had a sharp, short-term drop followed by gradual improvement over time in quadriceps strength. These findings suggest exercise training targeting muscle strength and mobility would be beneficial among older breast cancer survivors.
Authors: Carol Sweeney; Kathryn H Schmitz; DeAnn Lazovich; Beth A Virnig; Robert B Wallace; Aaron R Folsom Journal: J Natl Cancer Inst Date: 2006-04-19 Impact factor: 13.506
Authors: Randi V Karlsen; Kirsten Frederiksen; Matilde B Larsen; Annika B von Heymann-Horan; Charlotte W Appel; Jane Christensen; Anne Tjønneland; Lone Ross; Christoffer Johansen; Pernille E Bidstrup Journal: Acta Oncol Date: 2016-03-04 Impact factor: 4.089