Overall Survival and Local Recurrence Among Breast Cancer Patients in Hospital Sultanah Nora Ismail Batu Pahat, 2007-2013

Visceral Adiposity Index in Breast Cancer Survivors: A Case-Control Study

BACKGROUND

Breast cancer (BC) is the first cause of cancer morbidity and mortality in women. This disease has been linked to obesity; however, it is not clear how fat accumulation affects women who survive breast cancer. Although the visceral adiposity index (VAI) is a marker of cardiometabolic risk and adipose tissue dysfunction, it is not clear how it changes in breast cancer survivors. The aim of this investigation was to compare VAI in women with and without breast cancer.

METHODS

A case-control cross-sectional study was conducted on women who were BC survivors and women without the history of BC (control group). Body composition was assessed using electrical bioimpedance while VAI by means of waist circumference (WC), body mass index (BMI), triacylglycerols (TG), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C).

RESULTS

49 women in the BC survivor group and 50 in the control group. WC was wider in the survivor group as regards control (93.65 ± 10.48 vs. 88.52 ± 9.61 cm) (p=0.025); at once, TG and VAI were significantly higher for the survivor group (243.55 ± 199.84 vs. 159.84 ± 75.77) (p=0.007) and (11.03 ± 11.15 vs. 6.41 ± 3.66) (p < 0.005), respectively. Body composition parameters were similar in both groups.

CONCLUSIONS

VAI is higher in women who are BC survivors in comparison with controls matched by age and bodyweight.

Modelling excess mortality among breast cancer patients in the North East Region of Peninsular Malaysia, 2007-2011: a population-based study

BACKGROUND

Measurement of breast cancer burden and identification of its influencing factors help in the development of public health policy and strategy against the disease. This study aimed to examine the variability of the excess mortality of female breast cancer patients in the North East Region of Peninsular Malaysia.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study was conducted using breast cancer data from the Kelantan Cancer Registry between 2007 and 2011, and Kelantan general population mortality data. The breast cancer cases were followed up for 5 years until 2016. Out of 598 cases, 549 cases met the study criteria and were included in the analysis. Modelling of excess mortality was conducted using Poisson regression.

RESULTS

Excess mortality of breast cancer varied according to age group (50 years old and below vs above 50 years old, Adj. EHR: 1.47; 95% CI: 1.31, 4.09; P = 0.004), ethnicity (Malay vs non-Malay, Adj. EHR: 2.31; 95% CI: 1.11, 1.96; P = 0.008), and stage (stage III and IV vs. stage I and II, Adj. EHR: 5.75; 95% CI: 4.24, 7.81; P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Public health policy and strategy aim to improve cancer survival should focus more on patients presented at age below 50 years old, Malay ethnicity, and at a later stage.