Changes in alcohol consumption, body weight and physical activity among breast cancer survivors and population-based unaffected women in a prospective study. (February 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Orban, Ester; Jung, Audrey Y.; Möhl, Annika; Behrens, Sabine; Becher, Heiko; Obi, Nadia; Chang-Claude, Jenny
• Is Part Of: Cancer epidemiology. Volume 70(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-02
• Subjects: BC breast cancer -- CI confidence interval -- ER estrogen receptor -- MARIE Mamma Carcinoma Risk Factor Investigation -- OR odds ratio -- PA physical activity -- PR progesterone receptor -- WCRF/AICR World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research; Cancer survivors -- Breast neoplasms -- Health behaviour -- Case-control studies -- Longitudinal studies; Cancer -- Epidemiology -- Periodicals; Cancer -- Prevention -- Periodicals; Cancer -- Diagnosis -- Periodicals; Carcinogenesis -- Periodicals; 616.994005
• DOI: 10.1016/j.canep.2020.101852
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1877-7821

Abstract

Highlights: We compared health behaviour changes in breast cancer survivors and unaffected women. Breast cancer survivors were less likely to increase alcohol consumption to >10 g/d. Breast cancer survivors were more likely to experience weight changes ≥10 %. Breast cancer survivors more often decreased transportational activity to <2.5 h/wk. No difference was found for changes in recreational physical activity. Abstract: Background: It is unclear whether a breast cancer diagnosis affects health behaviour changes that occur with ageing. We aimed to compare long-term changes of alcohol consumption, body weight, and physical activity in women with breast cancer and in age-matched unaffected women. Methods: We used data from 1, 925 women with breast cancer and 3, 473 unaffected women aged 50–74 years enrolled in the population-based case-control study MARIE (Mamma Carcinoma Risk Factor Investigation) in 2002–2005, who also completed the follow-up in 2014-2016. Multinomial logistic regression was applied to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) for the associations between breast cancer status and categories of change in alcohol consumption, weight and physical activity. Results: After 11.6 years of follow-up, breast cancer survivors had significantly lower odds than unaffected women of increasing alcohol consumption from ≤10 to >10 g/day (adjusted OR 0.48, 95 % CI 0.35-0.65), but were more likely to experience a major weight change of ≥10 % compared to having stable weight (±<5 %) (OR for increase and decrease 1.32, 95 % CI 1.03–1.70 and 1.36, 95 % CI 1.05–1.77, resp.) and to decrease transport physical activity to below 2.5 h/week compared to maintaining the activity level (OR 1.61, 95 % CI 1.26–2.04). No significant group difference was found for changes in recreational physical activity. Conclusion: Our data indicate that some long-term health behaviour changes can be attributed to a breast cancer diagnosis rather than ageing, suggesting that long-term medical care of breast cancer survivors could pay greater attention to weight control and sufficient physical activity.