Assessment of bone health-related quality of life in postmenopausal women with non-metastatic breast cancer receiving cytotoxic chemotherapy: A prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND

Cytotoxic chemotherapy adversely affects bone health resulting in poor quality of life (QoL). This study aimed to validate and evaluate the effects of chemotherapy on bone health-specific QoL among postmenopausal women with early and locally advanced breast cancer.

METHODS

One hundred and nine newly diagnosed postmenopausal women with non-metastatic breast cancer aged 45 to 65 years planned for anthracycline and taxane-based chemotherapy were recruited prospectively during the study period (June 2018- December 2021). Bone health-specific QoL using QUALEFFO-31 consisting of three domains: pain, physical function, and mental function, were assessed at baseline, after chemotherapy and six months of follow-up.

RESULTS

The median age of the study group was 53(45-65) years. Early and locally advanced breast cancer represented 34(31.2%) and 75(68.8%), respectively. A significant worsening of the quality of life was seen at the end of chemotherapy compared to the baseline in the total scores (19.98 ± 8.34 vs. 28.98 ± 7.92 P < 0.001), pain (11.31 ± 11.58 vs. 26.70 ± 15.75 P < 0.001), physical (14.01 ± 9.19 vs. 20.47 ± 10.08, P < 0.001) and mental function (36.10 ± 11.07 vs. 46.37 ± 7.84, P < 0.001). In the subset analysis, the total scores of bone-specific QoL continue to be poor at 6 months of follow-up post-chemotherapy (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Our study suggests worsening bone health-related QoL in breast cancer women on chemotherapy and this effect continues to be persistent at six months of follow-up.