Diet Quality and the Number of Comorbidities Are Associated with General Health Among Older Female Cancer Survivors

2021 ◽  
Vol 33 (10) ◽  
pp. 908-918
Author(s):  
Allison Danko ◽  
Michelle Naughton ◽  
Colleen Spees ◽  
Anna Maria Bittoni ◽  
Jessica L. Krok-Schoen
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
Diet Quality ◽  
General Health ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Healthy Eating Index ◽  
Analysis Of Covariance ◽  
Related Quality ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Registered Dietitian Nutritionists ◽  
Female Cancer Survivors

Objective: We aimed to investigate the associations between diet quality, general health, and comorbidities among older female cancer survivors. Methods: Participants ( n = 171) completed one-time surveys to assess health-related quality of life (RAND-36), diet quality (Healthy Eating Index (HEI-2015)), and number of comorbidities. Additional demographic and clinical variables were collected. Descriptive statistics, analysis of covariance, correlations, and linear regressions were utilized. Results: A positive correlation was found between HEI-2015 and general health subscale scores (r = .26, p = .002). A negative correlation was found between the number of comorbidities and general health (r = −.21, p = .02). Being white (β = −.24, p = .02) and having fewer comorbidities (β = −.22, p = .04) were significantly associated with higher general health. Being unmarried (β = .24, p = .02) and having higher education (β = .32, p = .002) were significantly associated with higher HEI-2015 scores. Discussion: Healthcare providers should seek guidance from registered dietitian nutritionists for nutritional education to promote optimal nutritional status, thus contributing to improved general health among this growing population.

Healthy lifestyle challenges among older female cancer survivors.

2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (29_suppl) ◽  
pp. 156-156
Author(s):  
Jessica L. Krok-Schoen ◽  
Janell Pisegna ◽  
Elizabeth Arthur ◽  
Emily Ridgway ◽  
Christian Stephens ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
Diet Quality ◽  
Healthy Eating Index ◽  
Lifestyle Behaviors ◽  
Healthy Weight ◽  
Mental Hrqol ◽  
Diet History Questionnaire ◽  
Diet History ◽  
Female Cancer Survivors

156 Background: Healthy lifestyles including consuming a healthy diet, being physically active, and maintaining a normal weight can improve prognosis and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among cancer survivors. The largest proportion of cancer survivors are older adults (≥65 years), yet their lifestyle behaviors are understudied. This study examined the lifestyle behaviors (diet quality, physical activity, maintaining healthy weight) of older female cancer survivors and associations with HRQoL. Methods: Women aged 65 years or older, with all cancer subtypes and stages, who had completed primary cancer treatment (i.e., chemotherapy, surgery, radiation) within the past five years, were eligible to participate. Older female cancer survivors (n = 171) completed one-time surveys to assess HRQoL (RAND-36), unintentional weight loss, body mass index (BMI), diet quality (Diet History Questionnaire II), and physical activity. Demographic information and medical record data were also collected. Diet History Questionnaire II results were converted to Healthy Eating Index (HEI)-2015 scores. Descriptive analyses, correlations, and stepwise linear regressions were utilized. Results: The majority of the sample (median age = 74.50±8.43 years) were white (90%), married (54.7%), breast cancer survivors (67.7%), and completed at least a bachelor’s degree (54.7%). Physical and mental HRQoL of the sample were low; 41.94±10.50 and 48.47±7.18, respectively, out of 100. Physical activity was low; 75.3%, 54.2%, and 68.1% reported no strenuous, moderate, and mild physical activity, respectively. Mean BMI was 27.71±6.24 (overweight), with 64% of the participants being overweight or obese. Mean HEI-2015 scores were 66.54+10.0 out of 100 and below the cutoff score of 80, which represents a “good diet”. Participating in moderate physical activity was associated with higher physical HRQoL (β = 0.42, p = 0.004). Being older (β = 0.27, p = 0.025), white (β = 0.53, p < 0.001), and having higher HEI scores (β = 0.30, p = 0.011) was associated with higher mental HRQoL. Conclusions: Older female cancer survivors reported lifestyle challenges including poor diet quality, low levels of physical activity, and high rates of being overweight or obese, which were associated with HRQoL. Results indicate the need for tailored health interventions for older female cancer survivors regarding their lifestyle behaviors to improve prognosis and HRQoL.

scholarly journals Adherence to the World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research Recommendations for Cancer Prevention Is Associated With Better Health-Related Quality of Life Among Elderly Female Cancer Survivors

2013 ◽  
Vol 31 (14) ◽  
pp. 1758-1766 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maki Inoue-Choi ◽  
DeAnn Lazovich ◽  
Anna E. Prizment ◽  
Kim Robien
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Cancer Research ◽  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
Cancer Prevention ◽  
Elderly Female ◽  
Adherence Score ◽  
Related Quality ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Recommendation Adherence ◽  
Female Cancer Survivors

Purpose The 2007 World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research (WCRF/AICR) diet and physical activity guidelines encourage cancer survivors to follow its cancer prevention recommendations. We evaluated whether adherence to the WCRF/AICR recommendations was associated with health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among elderly female cancer survivors. Patients and Methods A total of 2,193 women with a confirmed cancer diagnosis (1986 through 2002) in the Iowa Women's Health Study were identified. We calculated a WCRF/AICR recommendation adherence score (range, 0 to 7), assigning one point each for seven recommendations. Physical and mental component summary scores (PCS, MCS) from the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form–36 Health Survey were compared by recommendation adherence scores. Results Mean adherence score was 4.0 ± 1.2. Overall, higher adherence to the WCRF/AICR guidelines was significantly associated with better PCS and MCS after adjustment for age, education, marital status, number of comorbidities, smoking, cancer stage, and current cancer treatment (Ptrend < .001 for both). PCS was 43.5 versus 37.0 and MCS was 54.2 versus 52.0 among women with adherence scores ≥ 5 compared with women scoring ≤ 3. Adherence to the physical activity recommendation was associated with higher PCS and MCS after adjusting for demographic and medical confounders, body mass index, and dietary recommendation adherence. For the body weight recommendation, adherence was associated with higher PCS but lower MCS, whereas adherence to the dietary recommendations was associated with higher MCS only. Conclusion Following the lifestyle guidelines for cancer prevention may improve HRQOL among elderly female cancer survivors. Physical activity may be a key lifestyle factor to improve HRQOL.

scholarly journals Post-Diagnostic Diet Quality and Mortality in Females with Self-Reported History of Breast or Gynecological Cancers: Results from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III)

Nutrients ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 2558 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karavasiloglou ◽  
Pestoni ◽  
Faeh ◽  
Rohrmann
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
National Health ◽  
Diet Quality ◽  
Uterine Cancer ◽  
Healthy Eating Index ◽  
Inverse Association ◽  
Nutrition Examination Survey ◽  
The Third ◽  
Health And Nutrition ◽  
Female Cancer Survivors

High quality diets are associated with favorable disease and mortality outcomes in various populations; little and conflicting information is available for female cancer survivors. We investigated the association of post-diagnostic diet quality with mortality in female cancer survivors. Data from 230 women with a previous breast, or gynecological (i.e., ovarian, cervical or uterine) cancer diagnosis in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were analyzed. The Healthy Eating Index (HEI) and the Mediterranean Diet Score (MDS) were calculated based on a 24-hour dietary recall interview. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to calculate multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Higher HEI score was associated with lower mortality (HRHEI total = 0.97, 95% CI: 0.95–0.98, 1 unit increase), but the association for MDS failed to reach statistical significance (HRMDS total = 0.87, 95% CI: 0.74–1.04). In subgroup analyses, a statistically significant inverse association was observed between the HEI and mortality; for the MDS, no statistically significant association was apparent. Higher post-diagnostic HEI score was inversely associated with mortality in female cancer survivors, suggesting a protective effect when adhering to the diet captured by the HEI. Additional studies are required in order to investigate underlying mechanisms of the mortality-adherence association.

scholarly journals Self-reported symptoms of arm lymphedema and health-related quality of life among female breast cancer survivors

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kayo Togawa ◽  
Huiyan Ma ◽  
Ashley Wilder Smith ◽  
Marian L. Neuhouser ◽  
Stephanie M. George ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Analysis Of Covariance ◽  
Health Related Quality ◽  
Burning Pain ◽  
Related Quality ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Arm Lymphedema

AbstractWe examined cross-sectional associations between arm lymphedema symptoms and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in the Health, Eating, Activity and Lifestyle (HEAL) Study. 499 women diagnosed with localized or regional breast cancer at ages 35–64 years completed a survey, on average 40 months after diagnosis, querying presence of lymphedema, nine lymphedema-related symptoms, e.g., tension, burning pain, mobility loss, and warmth/redness, and HRQoL. Analysis of covariance models were used to assess HRQoL scores in relation to presence of lymphedema and lymphedema-related symptoms. Lymphedema was self-reported by 137 women, of whom 98 were experiencing lymphedema at the time of the assessment. The most common symptoms were heaviness (52%), numbness (47%), and tightness (45%). Perceived physical health was worse for women reporting past or current lymphedema than those reporting no lymphedema (P-value < 0.0001). No difference was observed for perceived mental health (P-value = 0.31). Perceived physical health, stress, and lymphedema-specific HRQoL scores worsened as number of symptoms increased (P-values ≤ 0.01). Women reporting tension in the arm had lower physical health (P-value = 0.01), and those experiencing burning pain, tension, heaviness, or warmth/redness in the arm had lower lymphedema-specific HRQoL (P-values < 0.05). Treatment targeting specific lymphedema-related symptoms in addition to size/volume reduction may improve some aspects of HRQoL among affected women.

scholarly journals Health-Related Quality of Life among Cancer Survivors Depending on the Occupational Status

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (7) ◽  
pp. 3803
Author(s):  
Kisook Kim ◽  
Hyohyeon Yoon
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
Occupational Status ◽  
Influential Factors ◽  
Health Related Quality ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Related Quality ◽  
Health Related

The study aimed to identify and compare the factors affecting health-related quality of life (HRQoL) depending on the occupational status of cancer survivors. This study was a secondary data analysis from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) from 2014 to 2018. Hierarchical multivariate linear regression was used to investigate the factors affecting the HRQoL of each group. Non-working cancer survivors had significantly lower HRQoL than working cancer survivors (p < 0.001). A hierarchical multiple regression model showed that demographic, health-related, and psychological characteristics explained 62.0% of non-working cancer survivors’ HRQoL (F = 4.29, p < 0.001). Among the input variables, health-related characteristics were the most influential factors (ΔR2 = 0.274, F = 9.84, p < 0.001). For working cancer survivors, health-related characteristics were the only variable that was statistically associated with HRQoL (F = 5.556, p < 0.001). It is important to enhance physical activities and manage the chronic disease to improve the HRQoL of working cancer survivors. Further, managing health-related characteristics, including depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation, is necessary for non-working cancer survivors. Regarding working survivors, psychological factors such as depressive symptoms and suicidal tendencies did not affect HRQoL. Therefore, an early and effective return to work program should be developed for the improvement of their HRQoL.

scholarly journals Health-Related Quality of Life in Asian Differentiated Thyroid Cancer Survivors

2021 ◽  
Vol 28 ◽  
pp. 107327482110297
Author(s):  
Wing-Lok Chan ◽  
Horace Cheuk-Wai Choi ◽  
Brian Lang ◽  
Kai-Pun Wong ◽  
Kwok-Keung Yuen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Thyroid Cancer ◽  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
Differentiated Thyroid Cancer ◽  
Summary Score ◽  
Health Related Quality ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Related Quality ◽  
Health Related

Background: Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is important for differentiated thyroid cancer survivors, but data for Asian survivors is lacking. This study aimed to have an overview of, and identify any disease-or treatment-related factors associated with, HRQoL in Asian differentiated thyroid cancer survivors. Patients and Methods: Thyroid cancer survivors were recruited from the thyroid clinics at Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong from February 2016 to December 2016. All adult differentiated thyroid cancer patients with stable disease more than or equal to 1 year received a survey on HRQoL using the European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) and Thyroid cancer specific quality of life (THYCA-QoL) questionnaire. Clinical information was collected retrospectively from the computerized clinical management system. To identify factors associated with poor HRQoL, univariable and stepwise multivariable regression analysis were performed. Results: A total of 613 survivors completed the questionnaires (response rate: 82.1%; female: 80.1%; median survivorship: 7.4 years (range: 1.0-48.2 years)). The QLQ-C30 summary score mean was 84.4 (standard deviation (SD): 12.7) while the THYCA-QoL summary score mean was 39.9 (SD: 9.7). The 2 highest symptom subscales were fatigue (mean: 26.4, SD: 20.6) and insomnia (mean: 26.2, SD: 27.6). Factors associated with worse HRQoL included serum thyrotropin (TSH) greater than 1.0 mIU/L, unemployment, and concomitant psychiatric disorders. Concomitant psychiatric illness (n = 40/613, 6.5%) also showed significant association with most of the symptom and functional subscales. Conclusions: Fatigue and insomnia were the 2 most common symptoms experienced by our differentiated thyroid cancer survivors. Long-term survivorship care with monitoring serum TSH level, supporting return-to-work and screening for concomitant psychiatric disorders should be offered.

scholarly journals Effects of Theory-Based Behavioral Interventions on Physical Activity Among Overweight and Obese Female Cancer Survivors: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials

2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 226-236 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amerigo Rossi ◽  
Ciarán Friel ◽  
Leeja Carter ◽  
Carol Ewing Garber
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
Controlled Trials ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Cohen’S D ◽  
Home Based ◽  
Obese Female ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Cohen's D ◽  
Female Cancer Survivors

Purpose. To determine whether theory-based physical activity (PA) interventions for overweight and obese female cancer survivors lead to increased PA and improved health. Methods. This systematic review examined randomized controlled trials analyzing the impact of theory-based PA interventions on overweight and obese female cancer survivors through December 2016. Searches of 5 electronic databases revealed 10 articles that included 1351 participants who met the inclusion criteria. Results. Participants were primarily non-Hispanic white (74%-100%) breast or endometrial cancer survivors. Intervention characteristics and PA assessment tools varied greatly. Adherence (68%-99%) and retention (79%-100%) were relatively high. Social cognitive theory was utilized as the theoretical construct in 9 of the 10 studies. Home-based interventions led to small improvements in PA (Cohen’s d range = 0.25-0.31), whereas home-based plus center-based interventions led to moderate to large improvements (Cohen’s d range = 0.45-1.02). Only three of the studies assessed psychosocial behavioral processes associated with PA, and the results were mixed. Health-related outcomes included improvements in aerobic fitness (Cohen’s d = 0.32-1.1 in 5 studies), large absolute decreases in waist circumferences (>6 cm in 3 of 5 studies; Cohen’s d = −0.31 to −1.02), and no change in inflammatory biomarkers (in 2 studies). Only one serious adverse event (pelvic stress fracture) was attributed to the interventions. Conclusions. Theory-based PA interventions are safe and feasible for overweight and obese female cancer survivors. Interventions that include a center-based component showed moderate to large effect sizes for PA. Future studies should evaluate behavioral variables and more health-related clinical outcomes.

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