The impact of non- and anthracycline-based chemotherapy on fatigue in breast cancer survivors: results from WF-97415.

PURPOSE: To examine the differential effect of non- and anthracycline-based chemotherapy on fatigue over 12 months post-diagnosis among breast cancer survivors. METHODS: This study is based on a prospective Wake Forest NCI Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP) multicenter cohort study (WF-97415) of women with stage I to III breast cancer and non-cancer controls. Analyses compared those: 1) receiving, or 2) not receiving anthracycline chemotherapy, 3) receiving aromatase inhibitors (AIs) without chemotherapy, with 4) a comparator group without a history of cancer. In-person clinic assessments were conducted at: baseline (prior to chemotherapy or start of AI therapy), and 3 and 12 months after baseline. The Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue scale was the primary outcome. Estimated least squares means by group using mixed models with a random subject effect, fixed effects of time and group, and the interaction between time and group was used to compare groups across time, controlling for age, comorbidities, and treatment variables. RESULTS: Among 284 women (mean age = 53.4 years, sd 11.9 years), there was a significant (p < 0.0001) group by time interaction, with a sharp increase in fatigue at 3 months in the two chemotherapy groups in comparison to the non-chemotherapy and non-cancer controls. The two chemotherapy groups did not significantly differ in fatigue at any time point. CONCLUSION: Women with breast cancer who receive non- or anthracycline-based chemotherapy experience similar trends in and levels of fatigue within the first year of treatment and greater fatigue than women receiving AIs alone or women without breast cancer.

Physical health-related quality of life trajectories over two years following breast cancer diagnosis in older women: a secondary analysis.

PURPOSE: To identify distinct trajectories of physical health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in older women over the first two years following breast cancer diagnosis, and to examine characteristics associated with trajectory group membership. METHODS: A secondary analysis of a longitudinal study of women diagnosed with stage I-III breast cancer who completed surveys within eight months of diagnosis and six, twelve, and eighteen months later that focuses on a subset of women aged ≥ 65 years (N = 145).Physical HRQoL was assessed using the Physical Component Score (PCS) of the SF-36 Health Survey. Finite mixture modeling identified distinct PCS trajectories. Multivariable logistic regression identified variables predictive of low PCS group membership. RESULTS: Two distinct patterns of PCS trajectories were identified. The majority (58%) of women had PCS above the age-based SF-36 population norms and improved slightly over time. However, 42% of women had low PCS that remained low over time. In multivariable analyses, older age, difficulty paying for basics, greater number of medical comorbidities, and higher body mass index were associated with low PCS group membership. Cancer treatment and psychosocial variables were not significantly associated. CONCLUSION: A large subgroup of older women reported very low PCS that did not improve over time. Older age, obesity, multiple comorbidities, and lower socioeconomic status may be risk factors for poorer PCS in women with breast cancer. Incorporating routine comprehensive geriatric assessments that screen for these factors may help providers identify older women at risk for poorer physical HRQoL post breast cancer treatment.

Physical Activity During Breast Cancer Therapy Associates With Preserved Exercise Capacity and Cardiac Function (WF97415).

Background: Cancer treatment increases cardiovascular disease risk, but physical activity (PA) may prevent cardiovascular disease. Objectives: This study examined whether greater PA was associated with better submaximal exercise capacity and cardiac function during cancer therapy. Methods: Participants included 223 women with stage I to III breast cancer (BC) before and 3 months after undergoing treatment and 126 control participants. Leisure-time PA (LTPA) was reported using the Godin-Shephard LTPA questionnaire. Cardiac function was assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance. Submaximal exercise capacity was determined by 6-minute walk distance. Results: BC participants reported similar baseline LTPA scores (24.7; 95% CI: 21.7-28.0) as control participants (29.4; 95% CI: 25.0-34.2). The BC group declined to 16.9 (95% CI: 14.4-19.6) at 3 months relative to 30.8 (95% CI: 26.2-35.8) in control participants. Among BC participants, more LTPA was related to better exercise capacity (ß ± SE: 7.1 ± 1.6; 95% CI: 4.0-10.1) and left ventricular (LV) circumferential strain (-0.16 ± 0.07; 95% CI: -0.29 to -0.02). Increased LTPA over the 3 months was associated with decreased likelihood of treatment-induced cardiac dysfunction according to LV circumferential strain classifications (OR: 0.98; 95% CI: 0.97-0.998). BC participants reporting insufficient LTPA according to PA guidelines exhibited deteriorations in exercise capacity (adjusted mean difference ± SE: -29 ± 10 m; P = 0.029), LV end-systolic volume (5.8 ± 1.3 mL; P < 0.001), LV ejection fraction (-3.2% ± 0.8%; P = 0.002), and LV circumferential strain (2.5% ± 0.5%; P < 0.001), but BC participants meeting LTPA guidelines did not exhibit these adverse changes. Conclusions: PA declined during BC therapy; however, PA participation was associated with attenuated declines in exercise capacity and cardiac function that are often observed in this population. (Understanding and Predicting Breast Cancer Events After Treatment [WF97415 UPBEAT]; NCT02791581).

Derivation and external validation of a risk score for clinically important declines in health and function among two longitudinal cohorts of women in the mid-life.

OBJECTIVES: Women in mid-life often develop chronic conditions and experience declines in physical health and function. Identifying factors associated with declines provides opportunity for targeted interventions. We derived and externally validated a risk score for clinically important declines over 10 years among women ages 55-65 using the Physical Component Summary Score (PCS) of the SF-36. DESIGN: Derivation and validation of a risk score. SETTING: Two longitudinal cohorts from sites in the USA were used. PARTICIPANTS: Women from the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN) and women from the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) Observational Study and/or clinical trials. OUTCOME MEASURES: A clinically important decline over 10 years among women ages 55-65 using the PCS of the SF-36 predictors was measured at the beginning of the 10 years of follow-up. RESULTS: Seven factors-lower educational attainment, smoking, higher body mass index, history of cardiovascular disease, history of osteoarthritis, depressive symptoms and baseline PCS level-were found to be significant predictors of PCS decline among women in SWAN with an area under the curve (AUC)=0.71 and a Brier Score=0.14. The same factors were associated with a decline in PCS in WHI with an AUC=0.64 and a Brier Score=0.18. Regression coefficients from the SWAN analysis were used to estimate risk scores for PCS decline in both cohorts. Using a threshold of a 30% probability of a significant decline, the risk score created a binary test with a specificity between 89%-93% and an accuracy of 73%-79%. CONCLUSIONS: Seven clinical variables were used to create a valid risk score for PCS declines that was replicated in an external cohort. The risk score provides a method for identifying women at high risk for a significant mid-life PCS decline.

Qualitative similarities and distinctions between participants' experiences with a yoga intervention and an attention control.

PURPOSE: This manuscript aims to compare and contrast acceptability and perceived benefits of yoga-skills training (YST) and an empathic listening attention control (AC) in the Pro-You study, a randomized pilot trial of YST vs. AC for adults receiving chemotherapy infusions for gastrointestinal cancer. METHODS: Participants were invited for a one-on-one interview at week 14 follow-up, after completing all intervention procedures and quantitative assessments. Staff used a semi-structured guide to elicit participants' views on study processes, the intervention they received, and its effects. Qualitative data analysis followed an inductive/deductive approach, inductively identifying themes and deductively guided by social cognitive theory. RESULTS: Some barriers (e.g., competing demands, symptoms), facilitators (e.g., interventionist support, the convenience of clinic-based delivery), and benefits (e.g., decreased distress and rumination) were common across groups. YST participants uniquely described the importance of privacy, social support, and self-efficacy for increasing engagement in yoga. Benefits specific to YST included positive emotions and greater improvement in fatigue and other physical symptoms. Both groups described some self-regulatory processes, but through different mechanisms: self-monitoring in AC and the mind-body connection in YST. CONCLUSIONS: This qualitative analysis demonstrates that participant experiences in a yoga-based intervention or an AC condition reflect social cognitive and mind-body frameworks of self-regulation. Findings can be used to develop yoga interventions that maximize acceptability and effectiveness and to design future research that elucidates the mechanisms by which yoga is efficacious.

Sexual functioning among breast cancer survivors and non-cancer controls over 5 years post diagnosis: Pink SWAN.

PURPOSE: To compare sexual functioning from diagnosis to 5 years post diagnosis among breast cancer survivors (BCS) and women without cancer (controls). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Analyses included 118 BCS and 1765 controls from 20 years of the longitudinal Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN), a multiracial/ethnic cohort of mid-life women assessed approximately annually from 1995 to 2015. Pink SWAN participants reported no cancer at SWAN enrollment and developed (BCS) or did not develop (controls) incident breast cancer after enrollment. Outcomes included: being sexually active or not, intercourse frequency, sexual desire, vaginal dryness, and pain with intercourse. Using longitudinal logistic regression, we compared BCS and controls on prevalence of sexual functioning outcomes with respect to years since diagnosis. In addition, we examined whether menopause transition stage, depressive symptoms, relationship satisfaction, vaginal dryness, or pain with intercourse modified the relation between breast cancer and sexual functioning outcomes. RESULTS: Adjusting for partner status, both BCS and controls reported similar declines over time in being sexually active, sexual intercourse frequency, and sexual desire. Among sexually active women, more BCS than controls consistently reported vaginal dryness with significant differences between 2 and 4 years post-diagnosis, and pain with intercourse, with statistically significant differences between 0.5 years post-diagnosis to 2 years post-diagnosis. Being post-menopausal and reporting depressive symptoms were significant effect modifiers for pain with intercourse with both variables having positive and stronger associations with pain among the controls than among BCS. CONCLUSION: Except for more reporting of vaginal dryness and pain with intercourse among BCS, negative changes in sexual function during mid-life were similar in those with and without breast cancer.

Sleep disturbance among breast cancer survivors and controls from midlife to early older adulthood: Pink SWAN.

PURPOSE: To compare sleep disturbance from 5 years pre- to 5 years post-diagnosis between breast cancer survivors (BCS) and women without cancer over the same period and to identify BCS subgroups exhibiting different sleep trajectories. METHODS: Analyses included data from 152 BCS and 2163 controls from 20 years of follow-up in the longitudinal Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN), a multi-racial/ethnic cohort study. SWAN participants were assessed approximately annually from 1995 to 2015 using a standardized protocol. Pink SWAN focused on women who reported no cancer at SWAN enrollment and developed incident breast cancer after enrollment or did not develop breast cancer. Nonparametric locally weighted scatterplot smoothing plots and linear mixed models were used to compare the prevalence of the most frequently reported sleep problem, frequently waking several times a night (a sleep maintenance problem) during the previous 2 weeks, between BCS and controls in the 5 years pre- to 5 years post-diagnosis. We characterized heterogeneity among BCS on this sleep problem using group-based trajectories and examined pre-diagnosis variables as predictors of group membership. RESULTS: No differences were found between BCS and controls in prevalence of frequent nighttime awakenings either before or after diagnosis. Among BCS, three trajectory groups were identified. Thirty-seven percent of BCS had consistently low prevalence of waking several times per night, 30% had high prevalence, and 33% had increasing prevalence which started 2 years pre-diagnosis. Prevalence of pre-diagnosis vasomotor symptoms, anxiety, depressive symptoms, and smoking differed among these groups. CONCLUSION: Among mid-aged women diagnosed with breast cancer, this diagnosis did not trigger/amplify a sleep maintenance problem. The majority of BCS had similar levels of this sleep problem from pre- to post-diagnosis. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: Although sleep maintenance problems were not amplified by a cancer diagnosis, a subset of BCS may have sleep issues that should be monitored and treated, as indicated.

The longitudinal relation of inflammation to incidence of vasomotor symptoms.

OBJECTIVE: Vasomotor symptoms (VMS), the most frequently reported symptoms during the menopausal transition, have been associated with inflammation. Whether inflammation is a risk factor for or a consequence of VMS remains unclear. The objectives of these analyses were to determine if elevated proinflammatory marker levels were associated with increased incident VMS in women without VMS at baseline and whether these associations varied by menopause transition stage or race/ethnicity. METHODS: We used longitudinal data on incident VMS, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP; n = 1,922) and interleukin-6 (IL-6; n = 203) from 13 follow-up visits in the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation, which included five racial/ethnic groups of midlife women. We performed multivariable discrete-time survival analyses to determine adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) for the association of these proinflammatory markers with incident VMS in women without VMS at baseline. RESULTS: We found no significant associations of incident VMS with dichotomized hs-CRP (>3 vs ≤3 mg/L) at baseline, concurrent or prior visit (aHRs, 1.04-2.03) or IL-6 (>1.44 vs ≤1.44 pg/mL) at visit 1, concurrent or prior visit (aHRs, 0.67-1.62), or continuous hs-CRP or IL-6 values over 13 follow-up visits (with nonsignificant adjusted increased hazards ranging from 0% to 2%). CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed no significant association of the proinflammatory biomarkers, hs-CRP or IL-6, either concurrently or with subsequent incident VMS, indicating that inflammation was unlikely to be a risk factor for VMS. Thus, clinical treatments directed at reducing inflammation would be unlikely to reduce the occurrence of VMS.

Anti-Müllerian hormone levels and breast cancer risk in the study of women's health across the nation.

PURPOSE: The relation of premenopausal anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels with breast cancer risk has been evaluated in a few studies, but primarily in non-Hispanic White women. METHODS: We evaluated the association of AMH levels with breast cancer risk in Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN), a multi-ethnic cohort of women. At enrollment, participants had an intact uterus and ≥ 1 ovary, and ≥ 1 menstrual period in the last 3 months. AMH at first measurement was assessed in 1,529 pre- or perimenopausal women using a high-sensitivity ELISA assay; values were natural log transformed. Breast cancer diagnoses were assessed at enrollment and subsequent follow-up visits through 2018 (median 6.1 years). RESULTS: In total, 84 women reported an incident breast cancer diagnosis. In multivariable Cox regression models adjusting for age, race and ethnicity, body mass index, and other factors, higher AMH levels were associated with a non-significant increased breast cancer risk. Compared to women in the 1st quartile, the hazard ratio (95% confidence interval) for women in the 4th quartile was 1.77 (0.87-3.60). CONCLUSION: Our results did not suggest a significant association between AMH and breast cancer risk; however, estimates were consistent with prior studies that reported positive associations.

Factors Associated With 10-Year Declines in Physical Health and Function Among Women During Midlife.

Importance: Women in midlife often develop chronic conditions and experience declines in physical health and function. Identifying factors associated with declines in physical health and function among these women may allow for targeted interventions. Objective: To examine the factors associated with clinically important 10-year declines in the physical component summary score (PCS) of the Short Form 36 (SF-36), a widely used patient-reported outcome measure, in women in midlife. Design, Setting, and Participants: This longitudinal cohort study collected data from geographically dispersed sites in the US. Participants were part of the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN), a racially and ethnically diverse cohort of women enrolled at or immediately before the menopause transition. Women have been followed for up to 21 years, between 1996 and 2016, with annual visits. Data were analyzed from October 2020 to March 2021. Exposures: Demographic indicators, health status measures, and laboratory and imaging assessments. Main Outcomes and Measures: The main outcome was a clinically important decline (≥8 points) on the PCS, based on the 10-year difference in scores between ages 55 and 65 years. Results: From the SWAN cohort of 3302 women, 1091 women (median [IQR] age, 54.8 [54.3-55.4] years; 264 [24.2%] Black women; 126 [11.6%] Chinese women; 135 [12.4%] Japanese women; 566 [51.9%] White women) were eligible for analyses based on duration of follow-up and availability of SF-36 data. At age 55, women had a median (IQR) body mass index (BMI; calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared) of 27.0 (23.2-32.6), a median (IQR) baseline PCS of 53.1 (46.8-56.7), 108 women (9.9%) were current smokers, and 938 women (86.3%) had at least 1 comorbidity. Between ages 55 and 65 years, the median (IQR) change in PCS was -1.02 (-6.11 to 2.53) points with 206 women (18.9%) experiencing declines of 8 points or more. In multivariable models, factors associated with clinically important decline included higher baseline PCS (odds ratio [OR], 1.08; 95% CI, 1.06-1.11), greater BMI (OR, 1.06; 95% CI, 1.03-1.09), less educational attainment (OR, 1.87; 95% CI, 1.32-2.65), current smoking (OR, 1.93; 95% CI, 1.14-3.26), osteoarthritis (OR, 1.46; 95% CI, 1.01-2.09), clinically significant depressive symptoms (OR, 2.03; 95% CI, 1.34-3.09), and cardiovascular disease (OR, 2.06; 95% CI, 1.26-3.36). Conclusions and Relevance: In this cohort study, clinically important declines in women's physical health and function were relatively common between ages 55 and 65 years. Several variables associated with these declines were identified as potentially useful components in a clinical score identifying women at increased risk of physical health and functional declines.

Vasomotor symptoms in midlife women with incident breast cancer: pink SWAN.

PURPOSE: We compared trajectories of vasomotor symptoms (VMS) and their risk factors in women with breast cancer (BrCa) to those of cancer-free controls. METHODS: Data were from 15 nearly annual follow-up visits (1996-2017) of the multi-racial/ethnic cohort of midlife women enrolled in the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN). We compared women with incident BrCa to controls for patterns of VMS, controlling for risk factors identified in bivariate analyses using multivariable longitudinal analyses. RESULTS: Characteristics at study entry largely did not differ between cases (n = 151) and controls (n = 2161). Adjusted prevalence of any VMS increased significantly among cases from diagnosis to 2.75 years post diagnosis [per-year adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 1.76, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.39-2.24], peaking at 2.75 years post diagnosis, whereas prevalence was stable among controls in this interval [aOR = 1.04, 95% CI 0.99-1.11]. Beyond 2.75 years post diagnosis, prevalence declined significantly in cases [aOR = 0.72, 95% CI 0.61-0.84] and less in controls [aOR = 0.96, 95% CI 0.92-1.00]. Patterns were similar for frequent VMS. Adjustment for tamoxifen use slightly reduced the per-year OR for any prevalent VMS post diagnosis, partially explaining excess VMS in cases. Other treatments were unassociated with VMS. CONCLUSIONS: Patterns of prevalent VMS reporting differed significantly between cases and controls, particularly post diagnosis, the latter only partially explained by tamoxifen use among cases. Risk factors for VMS largely did not differ between cases and controls.

A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study of Yoga Skills Training Versus an Attention Control Delivered During Chemotherapy Administration.

CONTEXT: It is important to address fatigue and co-occurring symptoms during chemotherapy to preserve quality of life in patients with gastrointestinal (GI) cancer. OBJECTIVE: To conduct a randomized controlled pilot study of a Yoga Skills Training (YST) intervention compared to an attention control (AC) among adults diagnosed with GI cancer. METHODS: YST consisted of four 30-minute sessions delivered individually during chemotherapy plus home practice. AC provided empathic attention plus home diaries. Patient-reported (PROMIS T-score) assessments of fatigue, depressive symptoms, sleep disturbances, and psychological stress (Perceived Stress Scale) were collected at chemotherapy visits: baseline, Week 8, Week 10 and Week 14, and analyzed using a mixed effects model. Inflammatory cytokines were assessed at baseline and Week 10. RESULTS: Forty-four of 77 adults approached agreed to participate (57%; YST n = 23; AC n = 21). Participants' mean age was 58 years and 48% were men. Participants randomized to YST reported a larger decline in fatigue (-2.4 difference, d = 0.30) and depressive symptoms (-2.5 difference, d = 0.30) than AC participants from baseline to Week 10 and sleep disturbances at Week 8 (-3.9 difference, d = 0.50). Differences in magnitude of change in symptoms were consistent with or exceeded a minimally important difference. Psychological stress decreased more in the AC at Week 10 (d = 0.30). Reductions in inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, sTNF R1) were larger in the YST group than AC. CONCLUSION: YST showed promise for improving fatigue, depressive symptoms, sleep disturbances, and inflammation. YST is also feasible and reaches patients underrepresented in yoga research (i.e., GI cancer, men), thus warranting further examination.

Depressive Symptoms and Associated Health-Related Variables in Older Adult Breast Cancer Survivors and Non-Cancer Controls.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the prevalence of depressive symptoms and associated risk factors in older adult breast cancer survivors (BCS) and age-matched non-cancer controls. SAMPLE & SETTING: Using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare Health Outcome Survey linked dataset from 1998 to 2012, BCS and non-cancer controls aged 65 years or older were identified. METHODS & VARIABLES: Depressive symptoms, comorbidities, functional limitations, socio-demographics, and health-related information were examined. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression and marginal models were performed. RESULTS: 5,421 BCS and 21,684 controls were identified. BCS and non-cancer controls had similar prevalence of depressive symptoms. Having two or more comorbidities and functional limitations were strongly associated with elevated risk of depressive symptoms in BCS and non-cancer controls. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: Having multiple comorbidities and multiple functional status are key factors associated with depressive symptoms in older adult BCS and non-cancer controls. Nurses are in an ideal position to screen older adult BCS and non-cancer controls at risk for depressive symptoms.

Lowered progesterone metabolite excretion and a variable LH excretion pattern are associated with vasomotor symptoms but not negative mood in the early perimenopausal transition: Study of Women's Health Across the Nation.

OBJECTIVE: The menopausal transition is characterized by progressive changes in ovarian function and increasing circulating levels of gonadotropins, with some women having irregular menstrual cycles well before their final menstrual period. These observations indicate a progressive breakdown of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis often associated with an increase in menopausal symptoms. Relationships between vasomotor symptoms (VMS) and depressed mood and sleep as well as a bidirectional association between VMS and depressed mood in mid-life women have been reported, but the endocrine foundations and hormone profiles associated with these symptoms have not been well described. Our objective was to determine the relationship between daily urinary hormone profiles and daily logs of affect and VMS during the early perimenopausal transition. STUDY DESIGN: SWAN, the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation, is a large, mutli-ethnic, multisite cohort study of 3302 women aged 42-52 at baseline, designed to examine predictors of health and disease in women as they traversed the menopause. Inclusion criteria were: an intact uterus and at least one ovary present, at least one menstrual period in the previous three months, no use of sex steroid hormones in the previous three months, and not pregnant or lactating. A subset (n = 849) of women aged 43-53 years from all study sites in the first Daily Hormone Study collection were evaluated for this substudy. OUTCOME MEASURES: We measured daily VMS, and urinary hormones: follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), pregnanediol glucuronide (PdG) and estradiol (estrone conjugate, E1C). RESULTS: A variable pattern of LH and negative LH feedback were the hormone patterns most strongly associated with increased VMS. In contrast, no hormone pattern was significantly related to negative mood. CONCLUSION: Fluctuations of LH associated with low progesterone production were associated with VMS but not negative mood, suggesting different endocrine patterns may be related to increased negative mood than to the occurrence of VMS.

Midlife Factors Related to Psychological Well-Being at an Older Age: Study of Women's Health Across the Nation.

Background: Psychological well-being (PWB) is predictive of future health and mortality. Midlife is a pivotal time in women's lives and may impact future PWB. This study, based on a longitudinal cohort of women, sought to identify how personal and social resources and modifiable behaviors at midlife relate to women's PWB in later life, and to determine if psychological resilience in later life moderates the impact of health problems on PWB. Materials and Methods: We assessed the association of midlife factors with PWB ∼9 years later in 1693 women from the multiracial/ethnic Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN) cohort. PWB was a composite score with cognitive and affective components. Midlife factors included sociodemographics, health, menopause-related, and psychosocial factors collected over the course of midlife. Results: In a multivariable model, greater PWB at an older age was associated with the following at midlife: less financial strain, greater physical activity, not smoking, better physical functioning, and fewer sleep problems. More positive attitudes toward menopause and aging, less cynicism, greater optimism, less trait anxiety, greater spirituality, and greater resilience were also independently associated with better PWB. Chinese women reported lower PWB compared with whites. Later life resilience moderated the impact of sleep problems on PWB. Conclusions: Several modifiable factors at midlife are associated with better PWB in older women and highlight the importance of healthy behaviors such as physical activity and good sleep hygiene at midlife. Interventions to increase optimism, spirituality, and resilience are also worth exploring.

A non-compensatory analysis of quality of life in breast cancer survivors using multivariate hidden Markov modeling.

PURPOSE: Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is a multidimensional concept comprising multiple domains such as physical, emotional, and social well-being. Many analyses use a sum score to represent the construct. However, this approach implies that gain in one domain can compensate for a deficit in another, and thus such analyses may not capture HRQoL profiles. Additionally, within-individual change over time, such as improvement in one domain but deterioration in another, may not be detected. The objectives of this research are to demonstrate the utility of a non-compensatory approach by (1) evaluating this approach applied to HRQoL data, and (2) comparing the approach to a compensatory method. METHODS: Data from a sample of 653 breast cancer survivors (BCS) provided five measurement time points over 18 months. We analyzed the scores from five domains on the FACT-B questionnaire (physical, functional, social, and emotional well-being and breast cancer-related concerns) using the multivariate hidden Markov model (MHMM), a non-compensatory approach that identifies different HRQoL states and associated BCS subgroups and their trajectories. RESULTS: The MHMM delineated six states. States 1 and 2 had low well-being scores across all domains, with state 2 slightly better than state 1. States 3 and 4 had similar overall HRQoL scores, but different profiles with compensation occurring across the domains of both physical and social well-being. States 5 and 6 had almost identical overall scores with compensation occurring between the domains of both social and emotional well-being. Over time, states 3-6 mostly "communicated" with each other (with moderate probabilities of transitioning between states). Compensation across domains could mask subtle changes occurring in BCS. We found that a trend analysis using both compensatory and non-compensatory approaches showed improvement in the HRQoL in BCS over time. CONCLUSION: The non-compensatory analysis of FACT-B shows differential profiles and trajectories in the HRQoL of BCS not captured by the sum score or one-domain-at-a-time approach.

The impact of breast cancer on physical activity from midlife to early older adulthood and predictors of change post-diagnosis.

PURPOSE: To examine physical activity (PA) patterns from pre- to post-diagnosis, and compare these changes to women without breast cancer. To determine pre-diagnosis predictors of PA change, post-diagnosis, in breast cancer survivors (BCS). METHODS: Data were from 2314 Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN) participants, average age of 46.4 ± 2.7 years at baseline (1996-1997). In Pink SWAN, 151 women who reported an incident breast cancer diagnosis over 20 years were classified as BCS; the remaining 2163 women were controls. LOESS plots and linear mixed models were used to illustrate and compare PA changes (sports/exercise [primary measure] and total PA) from pre- to post-diagnosis (or corresponding period) in BCS versus controls. Adjusted linear regression models were used to determine pre-diagnosis predictors of at-risk post-diagnosis PA change patterns (consistently low and decreased PA). RESULTS: No differences in pre- to post-diagnosis PA (or corresponding period) were observed in BCS versus controls. Among BCS, the odds of at-risk post-diagnosis PA change patterns was 2.50 (95% CI 0.96-6.48) times higher for those who reported sleep problems at ≥ 50% (compared to 0%) of pre-diagnosis visits and 3.49 (95% CI 1.26-9.65) times higher for those who were overweight or obese at all (compared to no) pre-diagnosis visits. No other statistically significant predictors were noted. CONCLUSIONS: Age-related declines in PA were not amplified by a breast cancer diagnosis. Given the beneficial role of PA across the cancer control continuum, efforts to increase or maintain adequate PA, post-diagnosis, should be continued. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: While age-related physical activity declines were not amplified breast cancer diagnosis, efforts to identify breast cancer survivors at increased risk for post-diagnosis physical activity declines (or maintenance of low activity) may be a high-yield strategy to improve prognosis and quality of life.

Rural cancer survivors' health information needs post-treatment.

OBJECTIVE: This study describes the most common cancer-related health information needs among rural cancer survivors and characteristics associated with reporting more information needs. METHODS: Rural breast, prostate, and colorectal cancer survivors, two to five years post-diagnosis, identified from an institutional cancer registry, completed a mailed/telephone-administered survey. Respondents were asked about 23 health information needs in eight domains (tests and treatment, side effects and symptoms, health promotion, fertility, interpersonal, occupational, emotional, and insurance). Poisson regression models were used to assess relationships between number of health information needs and demographic and cancer characteristics. RESULTS: Participants (n = 170) reported an average of four health information needs, with the most common domains being: side effects and symptoms (58 %), health promotion (54 %), and tests and treatment (41 %). Participants who were younger (compared to 5-year increase, rate ratio [RR] = 1.11, 95 % CI = 1.02-1.21), ethnic minority (RR = 1.89, 95 % CI = 1.17-3.06), less educated (RR = 1.49, 95 % CI = 1.00-2.23), and financially stressed (RR = 1.87, 95 % CI = 1.25-2.81) had a greater number of information needs. CONCLUSIONS: Younger, ethnic minority, less educated, and financially strained rural survivors have the greatest need for informational support. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: The provision of health information for rural cancer survivors should consider type of cancer, treatments received, and sociocultural differences to tailor information provided.

Health-related quality of life among breast cancer survivors and noncancer controls over 10 years: Pink SWAN.

BACKGROUND: The goal of this study was to compare health-related quality of life (HRQL) from diagnosis to 10 years postdiagnosis among breast cancer survivors (BCS) and women without cancer over the same period and to identify BCS subgroups exhibiting different HRQL trajectories. METHODS: Our analysis included 141 BCS and 2086 controls from the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN), a multiracial/ethnic cohort study of mid-life women assessed approximately annually from 1995 to 2015. Pink SWAN participants reported no cancer at SWAN enrollment and developed (cases) or did not develop (controls) incident breast cancer after enrollment. We assessed HRQL with SF-36 Mental Component Summary and Physical Component Summary scores. We modeled each as a function of case/control status, years since diagnosis, years since diagnosis squared, and the interaction terms between case/control status and the 2 time variables in linear models. We characterized heterogeneity in postdiagnosis HRQL of cases using group-based trajectories. RESULTS: BCS had significantly lower HRQL compared with controls at diagnosis and 1 year postdiagnosis. By 2 years, BCS and controls no longer differed significantly. Among BCS, 2 trajectory groups were identified for both scores. For the Mental Component Summary, 88.4% of BCS had consistently good and 11.6% had very low scores. For the Physical Component Summary, 73.9% had good scores, and 26.1% had consistently low scores. Prediagnosis perceived stress and current smoking were related to being in the low mental trajectory group, and a higher number of comorbidities was related to being in the low physical trajectory group. CONCLUSION: Although the majority of BCS have HRQL similar to non-cancer controls after 2 years, subgroups of BCS continue to have low HRQL. Prediagnosis stress, comorbidities, and smoking are vulnerability factors for long-term, low HRQL in BCS.

Health-related quality of life and medical comorbidities in older patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma: An analysis using the 1998-2011 surveillance, epidemiology, and end results-medicare health outcomes survey data.

OBJECTIVES: This study compares health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of older patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) to controls without cancer, and examines the impact of medical comorbidities on HRQoL. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a case-control study using the 1998-2011 Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare Health Outcomes Survey (SEER-MHOS) linked dataset. Cases were Medicare beneficiaries aged 65 and older diagnosed with PDAC (N = 128) and matched controls were without a history of cancer (N = 512). We used the Short Form 36 (SF-36) and Veterans-RAND-12 (VR-12) to examine HRQoL and calculated mental (MCS) and physical (PCS) component scores. Linear regression and mixed effects models were used to examine the impact of medical comorbidities on MCS and PCS for cases and controls, respectively. RESULTS: Cases reported significantly poorer PCS (29.3 vs. 36.3) and MCS (44.8 vs. 49.9) compared to controls. Comorbidities were significantly associated with lower PCS and MCS in controls. However, neither total number of comorbidities or comorbidities grouped by organ systems (cardiopulmonary disease, musculoskeletal disease, diabetes) were significantly related to PCS or MCS for cases. Comparison of regression coefficients estimates did not indicate that lack of significance was due to differences in sample size. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study highlight the poor HRQoL reported by older patients with PDAC. HRQoL scores were very low in this population, particularly in physical health status, which were not explained by comorbidities.