Factors predicting stage of breast cancer at diagnosis in middle aged and elderly women: the role of living arrangements.

We examined whether sociodemographic, health, and psychosocial factors predict stage at diagnosis in 444 women aged 55-84 with newly diagnosed, microscopically confirmed breast cancer. Stage was defined as local or advanced (regional or remote). One of the most interesting predictors of disease stage was living arrangement. The odds of being diagnosed with advanced disease were twice as great among women living with a spouse than among women living alone (95% CL = 1.16, 3.35), after adjusting for the effects of age, body mass index, income, comorbid conditions, smoking, and group membership. For those living with someone other than a spouse, the odds of advanced disease were 1.7 times greater than among those living alone (95% CL = 0.96, 3.06). Middle aged and older women who live alone may be more likely to monitor their own health and to use the health care system, and therefore have a greater chance of being diagnosed at an early stage of breast cancer.