Planning for return to work during the first year after breast cancer metastasis: A Swedish cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Planning for return to work (RTW) is relevant among sub-groups of metastatic breast cancer (mBC) survivors. RTW and protective factors for RTW in patients with mBC were determined. METHODS: Patients with mBC, ages 18-63 years, were identified in Swedish registers, and data were collected starting 1 year before their mBC diagnosis. The prevalence of working net days (WNDs) (>90 and >180) during the year after mBC diagnosis (y1) was determined. Factors associated with RTW were assessed using regression analysis. The impact of contemporary oncological treatment of mBC on RTW and 5-year mBC-specific survival was compared between those diagnosed in 1997-2002 and 2003-2011. RESULTS: Of 490 patients, 239 (48.8%) and 189 (36.8%) had >90 and >180 WNDs, respectively, during y1. Adjusted odds ratios (AORs) of WNDs >90 or >180 during y1 were significantly higher for patients with age ≤50 years (AOR180  = 1.54), synchronous metastasis (AOR90  = 1.68, AOR180  = 1.67), metastasis within 24 months (AOR180  = 1.51), soft tissue, visceral, brain as first metastatic site (AOR90  = 1.47) and sickness absence <90 net days in the year before mBC diagnosis, suggesting limited comorbidities (AOR90  = 1.28, AOR180  = 2.00), respectively. Mean (standard deviation) WNDs were 134.9 (140.1) and 161.3 (152.4) for patients diagnosed with mBC in 1997-2002 and 2003-2011, respectively (p = 0.046). Median (standard error) mBC-specific survivals were 41.0 (2.5) and 62.0 (9.6) months for patients diagnosed with mBC in 1997-2002 and 2003-2011, respectively (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: RTW of more than 180 WNDs was associated with younger age, early development of metastases and limited comorbidities during the year before the diagnosis of mBC. Patients diagnosed with mBC in 2003 or later had more WNDs and better survival than those diagnosed earlier.

Use of sickness benefits by patients with metastatic breast cancer-A Swedish cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence and predictors of sickness absence (SA) and disability pension (DP) in women with metastatic breast cancer (mBC). METHODS: Data were obtained from Swedish registers concerning 1,240 adult women diagnosed 1997-2011 with mBC, from 1 year before (y-1) to 2 (y1) and 2 (y2) years after diagnosis. SA and DP prevalence was calculated. Odds ratios (AOR) were determined for factors associated with using long-term (SA > 180 days or DP > 0 days) sickness benefits. RESULTS: Prevalence of SA and DP was 56.0% and 24.8% during y-1, 69.9% and 28.9% during y1, and 64.0% and 34.7% during y2, respectively. Odds of using long-term sickness benefits were higher y1 and y2 in patients using long-term sickness benefits the year before diagnosis (AOR = 3.82, 95% CI 2.91-5.02; AOR = 4.31, 95% CI 2.96-6.29, respectively) and y2 in patients with mBC diagnosis 1997-2000 (AOR = 1.84, 95% CI 1.10-3.08) and using long-term sickness benefits the year after diagnosis (AOR = 22.10, 95% CI 14.33-34.22). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of sickness benefit utilisation was high and increased after mBC diagnosis, particularly for patients using long-term sickness benefits prior to diagnosis. Additional study is needed to determine factors that might reduce the need for sickness benefits and enhance work ability in these patients.

Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Risk in Pregnant Women With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) by comparing pregnancies in women with SLE to general population controls. METHODS: We identified singleton pregnancies among women with SLE and general population controls in the Swedish Medical Birth Register (MBR; 2006-2016), sampled from the population-based Swedish Lupus Linkage (SLINK) cohort (1987-2012). SLE was defined by ≥ 2 International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-coded visits in the National Patient Register (NPR) and MBR, with ≥ 1 visit before pregnancy. GDM was defined by ≥ 1 ICD-coded visit in the NPR or MBR. Glucocorticoid (GC) and hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) dispensations within 6 months before and during pregnancy were identified in the Prescribed Drug Register. Risk ratios (RRs) and 95% CIs of GDM associated with SLE were estimated using modified Poisson regression models, stratified by parity and adjusted for maternal age at delivery, year of birth, and obesity. RESULTS: We identified 695 SLE pregnancies including 18 (2.6%) with GDM and 4644 non-SLE pregnancies including 65 (1.4%) with GDM. Adjusted RRs of GDM associated with SLE were 1.11 (95% CI 0.38-3.27) for first deliveries and 2.03 (95% CI 1.21-3.40) for all deliveries. Among SLE pregnancies, GDM occurred in 7/306 (2.3%) with ≥ 1 GC before and/or during pregnancy, 11/389 (2.8%) without GC, 7/287 (2.4%) with ≥ 1 HCQ before and/or during pregnancy, and in 11/408 (2.7%) without HCQ. CONCLUSION: When looking at all deliveries, SLE was associated with a 2-fold higher risk of GDM. GDM occurrence did not differ by GC or HCQ.

Identification of Risk of Cardiovascular Disease by Automatic Quantification of Coronary Artery Calcifications on Radiotherapy Planning CT Scans in Patients With Breast Cancer.

IMPORTANCE: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is common in patients treated for breast cancer, especially in patients treated with systemic treatment and radiotherapy and in those with preexisting CVD risk factors. Coronary artery calcium (CAC), a strong independent CVD risk factor, can be automatically quantified on radiotherapy planning computed tomography (CT) scans and may help identify patients at increased CVD risk. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association of CAC with CVD and coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with breast cancer. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: In this multicenter cohort study of 15 915 patients with breast cancer receiving radiotherapy between 2005 and 2016 who were followed until December 31, 2018, age, calendar year, and treatment-adjusted Cox proportional hazard models were used to evaluate the association of CAC with CVD and CAD. EXPOSURES: Overall CAC scores were automatically extracted from planning CT scans using a deep learning algorithm. Patients were classified into Agatston risk categories (0, 1-10, 11-100, 101-399, >400 units). MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Occurrence of fatal and nonfatal CVD and CAD were obtained from national registries. RESULTS: Of the 15 915 participants included in this study, the mean (SD) age at CT scan was 59.0 (11.2; range, 22-95) years, and 15 879 (99.8%) were women. Seventy percent (n = 11 179) had no CAC. Coronary artery calcium scores of 1 to 10, 11 to 100, 101 to 400, and greater than 400 were present in 10.0% (n = 1584), 11.5% (n = 1825), 5.2% (n = 830), and 3.1% (n = 497) respectively. After a median follow-up of 51.2 months, CVD risks increased from 5.2% in patients with no CAC to 28.2% in patients with CAC scores higher than 400. After adjustment, CVD risk increased with higher CAC score (hazard ratio [HR]CAC = 1-10 = 1.1; 95% CI, 0.9-1.4; HRCAC = 11-100 = 1.8; 95% CI, 1.5-2.1; HRCAC = 101-400 = 2.1; 95% CI, 1.7-2.6; and HRCAC>400 = 3.4; 95% CI, 2.8-4.2). Coronary artery calcium was particularly strongly associated with CAD (HRCAC>400 = 7.8; 95% CI, 5.5-11.2). The association between CAC and CVD was strongest in patients treated with anthracyclines (HRCAC>400 = 5.8; 95% CI, 3.0-11.4) and patients who received a radiation boost (HRCAC>400 = 6.1; 95% CI, 3.8-9.7). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: This cohort study found that coronary artery calcium on breast cancer radiotherapy planning CT scan results was associated with CVD, especially CAD. Automated CAC scoring on radiotherapy planning CT scans may be used as a fast and low-cost tool to identify patients with breast cancer at increased risk of CVD, allowing implementing CVD risk-mitigating strategies with the aim to reduce the risk of CVD burden after breast cancer. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03206333.

Sickness absence and disability pension among swedish women prior to breast cancer relapse with a special focus on the roles of treatment and comorbidity.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to determine the longitudinal prevalence and the predictors of sickness absence (SA) and disability pension (DP) in breast cancer (BC) women who eventually developed relapse. METHODS: A total of 1293 BC women, who were ages 20-63 years, diagnosed between 1996 and 2011 and by 2016 had all developed relapse, were identified in Swedish registers and were followed from two years before to five years after their primary diagnosis, while they were relapse-free. Annual prevalence of SA and DP was calculated. Logistic regression was used to estimate adjusted odds ratios (AOR) for long-term SA (>30 days) at one (y1) and three (y3) years post-diagnosis. RESULTS: Prevalence of long-term SA was 68.1% in y1 and 16.3% in y5. Prevalence of DP progressively increased from 16.3% in y1 to 29.0% in y5. Predictors of long-term SA included age <50 years (y1:AOR = 1.79 [1.39-2.29]), TNM stage III (y1:AOR = 1.54 [1.03-2.31]; y3:AOR = 2.21 [1.32-3.72]), metastasis (y1:AOR = 1.64 [1.26-2.12]; y3:AOR = 1.51 [1.05-2.18]), comorbidity (y1:AOR = 2.41 [1.55-3.76]; y3 AOR = 4.62 [2.49-8.57]) and any combination of radiotherapy, chemotherapy and hormonal therapy (y1:AOR = 2.05-5.71). CONCLUSION: Among BC women who later developed relapse, those who had higher stages of BC, had comorbidity and received neoadjuvant and/or adjuvant therapy were at significantly higher risk of needing long-term SA after their diagnosis.

Outcome and presentation of heart failure in breast cancer patients: findings from a Swedish register-based study.

AIMS: Heart failure (HF) patients diagnosed with breast cancer (BC) may have a higher risk of death, and different HF presentation and treatment than patients without BC. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 14 998 women with incident HF (iHF) or prevalent HF (pHF) enrolled in the Swedish HF Registry within and after 1 month since HF diagnosis, respectively, between 2008 and 2013. Patients were linked with the National Patient-, Cancer-, and Cause-of-Death Registry. Two hundred and ninety-four iHF and 338 pHF patients with BC were age-matched to 1470 iHF and 1690 pHF patients without BC. Comorbidity and treatment characteristics were compared using the χ2 tests for categories. Cox proportional hazard models assessed the hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality among HF patients with and without BC. In the pHF group, BC patients had less often myocardial infarction (21.6% vs. 28.6%, P < 0.01) and received less often aspirin (47.6% vs. 55.1%, P = 0.01), coronary revascularization (11.8% vs. 16.2%, P < 0.01), or device therapy (0.9% vs. 3.0%, P = 0.03). After median follow-up of 2 years, risk of all-cause mortality (iHF: HR = 1.04, 95% CI = 0.83-1.29 and pHF: HR = 0.94, 95% CI = 0.79-1.12), cardiovascular mortality (iHF: HR = 0.94, 95% CI = 0.71-1.24 and pHF: HR = 0.89, 95% CI = 0.71-1.10), and HF mortality (iHF: HR = 0.80, 95% CI = 0.34-1.90 and pHF: HR = 0.75, 95% CI = 0.43-1.29) were similar for patients with and without BC in the iHF and pHF groups. CONCLUSION: Risk of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in HF patients did not differ by BC status. Differences in pre-existing myocardial infarction and HF treatment among pHF patients with and without BC may suggest differences in pathogenesis of HF.

Bragatston study protocol: a multicentre cohort study on automated quantification of cardiovascular calcifications on radiotherapy planning CT scans for cardiovascular risk prediction in patients with breast cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is an important cause of death in breast cancer survivors. Some breast cancer treatments including anthracyclines, trastuzumab and radiotherapy can increase the risk of CVD, especially for patients with pre-existing CVD risk factors. Early identification of patients at increased CVD risk may allow switching to less cardiotoxic treatments, active surveillance or treatment of CVD risk factors. One of the strongest independent CVD risk factors is the presence and extent of coronary artery calcifications (CAC). In clinical practice, CAC are generally quantified on ECG-triggered cardiac CT scans. Patients with breast cancer treated with radiotherapy routinely undergo radiotherapy planning CT scans of the chest, and those scans could provide the opportunity to routinely assess CAC before a potentially cardiotoxic treatment. The Bragatston study aims to investigate the association between calcifications in the coronary arteries, aorta and heart valves (hereinafter called 'cardiovascular calcifications') measured automatically on planning CT scans of patients with breast cancer and CVD risk. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: In a first step, we will optimise and validate a deep learning algorithm for automated quantification of cardiovascular calcifications on planning CT scans of patients with breast cancer. Then, in a multicentre cohort study (University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam and Radboudumc, Nijmegen, The Netherlands), the association between cardiovascular calcifications measured on planning CT scans of patients with breast cancer (n≈16 000) and incident (non-)fatal CVD events will be evaluated. To assess the added predictive value of these calcifications over traditional CVD risk factors and treatment characteristics, a case-cohort analysis will be performed among all cohort members diagnosed with a CVD event during follow-up (n≈200) and a random sample of the baseline cohort (n≈600). ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The Institutional Review Boards of the participating hospitals decided that the Medical Research Involving Human Subjects Act does not apply. Findings will be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at conferences. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT03206333.

Trends in the risk of cardiovascular disease in women with breast cancer in a Dutch nationwide cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate trends in cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk following breast cancer using national registry data. METHODS: A nationwide cohort study was conducted, comprising 163 881 women with in situ (7.6%) or invasive (92.4%) breast cancer and women of the general population, ranging from 3 661 141 in 1996 to 4 566 573 in 2010. CVD mortality rate in women with and without breast cancer and hospitalisation rate after breast cancer were calculated for the years 1996-2010. Age-adjusted CVD and breast cancer mortality within 5 years after breast cancer admission (1997-2010) were compared with 1996 calculated with a Cox proportional hazard analysis. RESULTS: The absolute 10-year CVD mortality risk following breast cancer decreased from 56 per 1000 women in 1996 to 41 in 2005 (relative reduction=27.8%). In the general population, this decreased from 73 per 1000 women in 1996 to 55 in 2005 (-23.9%). The absolute risk of CVD hospitalisation within 1 year following breast cancer increased from 54 per 1000 women in 1996 to 67 in 2009 (+23.6%), which was largely explained by an increase in hospitalisation for hypertension, pulmonary embolism, rheumatoid heart/valve disease and heart failure. The 5-year CVD mortality risk was 42% lower (HR 0.58, 95% CI=0.48 to 0.70) for women admitted for breast cancer in 2010 compared with 1996. CONCLUSIONS: CVD mortality risk decreased in women with breast cancer and in women of the general population, with women with breast cancer having a lower risk of CVD mortality. By contrast, there was an increase in hospitalisation for CVD in women with breast cancer.

Health-related quality of life in Asian patients with breast cancer: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: To summarise the evidence on determinants of health-related quality of life (HRQL) in Asian patients with breast cancer. DESIGN: Systematic review conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) recommendations and registered with PROSPERO (CRD42015032468). METHODS: According to the PRISMA guidelines, databases of MEDLINE (PubMed), Embase and PsycINFO were systematically searched using the following terms and synonyms: breast cancer, quality of life and Asia. Articles reporting on HRQL using EORTC-QLQ-C30, EORTC-QLQ-BR23, FACT-G and FACT-B questionnaires in Asian patients with breast cancer were eligible for inclusion. The methodological quality of each article was assessed using the quality assessment scale for cross-sectional studies or the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale for cohort studies. RESULTS: Fifty-seven articles were selected for this qualitative synthesis, of which 43 (75%) were cross-sectional and 14 (25%) were longitudinal studies. Over 75 different determinants of HRQL were studied with either the EORTC or FACT questionnaires. Patients with comorbidities, treated with chemotherapy, with less social support and with more unmet needs have poorer HRQL. HRQL improves over time. Discordant results in studies were found in the association of age, marital status, household income, type of surgery, radiotherapy and hormone therapy and unmet sexuality needs with poor global health status or overall well-being. CONCLUSIONS: In Asia, patients with breast cancer, in particular those with other comorbidities and those treated with chemotherapy, with less social support and with more unmet needs, have poorer HRQL. Appropriate social support and meeting the needs of patients may improve patients' HRQL.

Automatic quantification of calcifications in the coronary arteries and thoracic aorta on radiotherapy planning CT scans of Western and Asian breast cancer patients.

PURPOSE: This study automatically quantified calcifications in coronary arteries (CAC) and thoracic aorta (TAC) on breast planning computed tomography (CT) scans and assessed its reproducibility compared to manual scoring. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Dutch (n = 1199) and Singaporean (n = 1090) breast cancer patients with radiotherapy planning CT scan were included. CAC and TAC were automatically scored using deep learning algorithm. CVD risk categories were based on Agatson CAC: 0, 1-10, 11-100, 101-400 and >400. Reliability between automatic and manual scoring was assessed in 120 randomly selected CT scans from each population, with linearly weighted kappa for CAC categories and intraclass correlation coefficient for TAC. RESULTS: Median age was higher in Dutch patients than Singaporean patients: 57 versus 52 years. CAC and TAC increased with age and were more present in Dutch patients than Singaporean patients: 24.2% versus 17.3% and 73.0% versus 62.2%, respectively. Reliability of CAC categories and TAC was excellent in the Netherlands (0.85 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.77-0.93) and 0.98 (95% CI = 0.96-0.98) respectively) and Singapore (0.90 (95% CI = 0.84-0.96) and 0.99 (95% CI = 0.98-0.99) respectively). CONCLUSIONS: CAC and TAC prevalence was considerable and increased with age. Deep learning software is a reliable method to automatically measure CAC and TAC on radiotherapy breast CT scans.

The risk of cardiovascular disease following breast cancer by Framingham risk score.

OBJECTIVES: This study evaluates the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) following breast cancer, accounting for baseline CVD risk. METHODS: Within the EPIC-NL (Dutch part of the European Prospective Investigation into Nutrition and Cancer) cohort, 1103 women were diagnosed with breast cancer. For every breast cancer patient, 3-4 women without breast cancer (n = 4328) were selected matched for age, year, and time since cohort enrollment. Based on CVD risk factors at cohort enrollment, 10-year risk of CVD was calculated and categorized: low (< 10%), intermediate (10-20%), high (> 20%). Cox proportional hazard models assessed the risk of CVD events (hospitalization or mortality) and CVD mortality of women with versus without breast cancer, adjusted for baseline CVD risk. RESULTS: After median follow-up of 5 and 6 years, 92 (8.3%) and 325 (7.5%) CVD events occurred in women with and without breast cancer, respectively. In the low CVD risk group, women with breast cancer had 1.44 (95% CI 1.00-2.06) times higher risk of CVD events than women without breast cancer. In the intermediate and high CVD risk categories, risk of CVD events was similar in women with and without breast cancer. Overall, women with breast cancer had 1.77 (95% CI 1.10-2.86) times higher risk of CVD mortality than women without breast cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Among women with low CVD risk, women with breast cancer have a higher risk of CVD event than women without breast cancer. Overall, women with breast cancer have a higher risk of CVD mortality than women without breast cancer.

Associations between workability and patient-reported physical, psychological and social outcomes in breast cancer survivors: a cross-sectional study.

PURPOSE: Workability is of increasing importance especially in Asia given the increasing incidence rates and young age of onset of breast cancer. This study explores the determinants of employment and suboptimal workability. And evaluate the association between workability and patient-reported physical, psychological, and social outcomes. METHODS: In a hospital-based cross-sectional study, 327 breast cancer survivors, < 65 years of age and > 1 year post-diagnosis were recruited. Employed survivors filled out the workability index, which measures a person's capacity to meet work demands in relation to current health status. The EORTC-QLQ-C30, EORTC-QLQ-BR23, hospital anxiety and depression scale, multidimensional fatigue inventory, and brief pain index were administered. Fisher's exact test and Kruskal-Wallis test were used to test for associations of workability and employment status with demographic, clinical characteristics, and patient-reported outcomes. Linear models with standardised scores for patient-reported outcomes were fitted to study the associations of workability with patient-reported outcomes. RESULTS: Of the 327 survivors, < 65 years of age (working age), 140 (43%) were in full-time and 34 (10%) in part-time employment. Employed survivors were younger at time of diagnosis and at time of survey. Employment status was not associated with time since diagnosis, ethnicity, or clinical characteristics. Suboptimal workability was present in 37% of employed survivors of the working age, and more common in jobs that include physical work activities. Higher level of depression, financial difficulty and physical fatigue, more breast symptoms, and poorer global health status were independently associated with poorer workability. CONCLUSIONS: Lower employment and reduced workability in breast cancer survivors is common, and reduced workability is associated with higher levels of depression, financial difficulty and physical fatigue, more breast symptoms, and poorer global health status. Longitudinal research on psychosocial support with workability in Asia may find tailored approach to improve or maintain workability in employed breast cancer patients.

Determinants of satisfaction with cosmetic outcome in breast cancer survivors: A cross-sectional study.

Little research has been done into cosmetic outcomes in non-Western breast cancer populations. We aimed to study the prevalence and determinants of dissatisfaction with cosmetic outcome after breast cancer surgery of Asian breast cancer survivors, and its association with patient-reported anxiety, depression, and quality of life. In a hospital-based cross-sectional study, 384 breast cancer survivors of at least 12 months after diagnosis completed questionnaires on satisfaction with cosmetic appearance, quality of life (EORTC-QLQ-C30) and anxiety and depression (HADS). Cumulative logit models were used to examine the adjusted association between dissatisfaction with cosmetic appearance and demographic and clinical characteristics. Kruskal-Wallis test was used to test for associations between dissatisfaction with cosmetic appearance and patient-reported outcomes. Overall, 20% of women reported to be (very) dissatisfied with cosmetic appearance. Survivors of Chinese ethnicity were more likely dissatisfied with cosmetic appearance compared to Malay survivors (22% and 14% respectively, adjusted OR = 2.4, 95%CI: 1.4-3.9). Women with DCIS (adjusted OR = 2.2, 95%CI: 1.3-3.7) or advanced stage disease (adjusted OR = 2.2, 95%CI: 1.2-3.9) had a higher risk of being dissatisfied with their cosmetic appearance. Women treated with mastectomy were at a higher risk of dissatisfaction with cosmetic appearance (adjusted OR = 1.7, 95%CI: 1.1-2.5). Dissatisfaction with cosmetic appearance was associated with increased depression scores. In this South-East Asian population, one in five breast cancer patients were (very) dissatisfied with the cosmetic outcome of treatment. Chinese women, women with larger tumors and women treated with mastectomy were most likely to report dissatisfaction with cosmetic appearance.

Vitamin Status and the Development of Postoperative Cognitive Decline in Elderly Surgical Oncologic Patients.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate the influence that serum levels of vitamin B12, folate, and homocysteine have on the development of short-term postoperative cognitive decline in the elderly surgical oncology patient. METHODS: This study was part of a prospective cohort study focused on postoperative cognitive outcomes for patients 65 years of age or older undergoing surgery for a solid malignancy. Postoperative cognitive decline was defined as the change in the combined results of the Ruff Figural Fluency Test and the Trail-Making Test Parts A and B. Patients with the highest change in scores 2 weeks postoperatively compared with baseline were considered to be patients with cognitive decline. Patients with the lowest change were considered to be patients without cognitive decline. To analyze the effect of vitamin levels on the changes in postoperative cognitive scores, uni- and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed. RESULTS: The study enrolled 61 patients with and 59 patients without postoperative cognitive decline. Hyperhomocysteinemia was present in 14.2% of the patients. Patients with postoperative cognitive decline more often had hyperhomocysteinemia (27.9 vs 10.2%). Hyperhomocysteinemia was associated with a higher chance for the development of postoperative cognitive decline (odds ratioadjusted, 11.9; 95% confidence interval, 2.4-59.4). Preoperative vitamin B12 or folate deficiency were not associated with the development of postoperative cognitive decline. CONCLUSION: Preoperative hyperhomocysteinemia is associated with the development of postoperative cognitive decline. The presence of preoperative hyperhomocysteinemia could be an indicator for an increased risk of postoperative cognitive decline developing in the elderly.

Automatic Coronary Artery Calcium Scoring on Radiotherapy Planning CT Scans of Breast Cancer Patients: Reproducibility and Association with Traditional Cardiovascular Risk Factors.

OBJECTIVES: Coronary artery calcium (CAC) is a strong and independent predictor of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. This study assesses reproducibility of automatic CAC scoring on radiotherapy planning computed tomography (CT) scans of breast cancer patients, and examines its association with traditional cardiovascular risk factors. METHODS: This study included 561 breast cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy between 2013 and 2015. CAC was automatically scored with an algorithm using supervised pattern recognition, expressed as Agatston scores and categorized into five categories (0, 1-10, 11-100, 101-400, >400). Reproducibility between automatic and manual expert scoring was assessed in 79 patients with automatically determined CAC above zero and 84 randomly selected patients without automatically determined CAC. Interscan reproducibility of automatic scoring was assessed in 294 patients having received two scans (82% on the same day). Association between CAC and CVD risk factors was assessed in 36 patients with CAC scores >100, 72 randomly selected patients with scores 1-100, and 72 randomly selected patients without CAC. Reliability was assessed with linearly weighted kappa and agreement with proportional agreement. RESULTS: 134 out of 561 (24%) patients had a CAC score above zero. Reliability of CVD risk categorization between automatic and manual scoring was 0.80 (95% Confidence Interval (CI): 0.74-0.87), and slightly higher for scans with breath-hold. Agreement was 0.79 (95% CI: 0.72-0.85). Interscan reliability was 0.61 (95% CI: 0.50-0.72) with an agreement of 0.84 (95% CI: 0.80-0.89). Ten out of 36 (27.8%) patients with CAC scores above 100 did not have other cardiovascular risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: Automatic CAC scoring on radiotherapy planning CT scans is a reliable method to assess CVD risk based on Agatston scores. One in four breast cancer patients planned for radiotherapy have elevated CAC score. One in three patients with high CAC scores don't have other CVD risk factors and wouldn't have been identified as high risk.