Prevalence and Risk Factors of Adhesive Capsulitis in Asian Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing an Outpatient Community Cancer Rehabilitation Program.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the prevalence and risk factors for adhesive capsulitis in postoperative breast cancer patients up to 5 years after surgery who were attending an outpatient community cancer rehabilitation program, and to determine whether any significant relationship exists between arm lymphedema and adhesive capsulitis.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional observational study.

SETTING

National cancer rehabilitation center.

PARTICIPANTS

Asian women (N=135) who underwent breast surgery and were referred for an outpatient community cancer rehabilitation program.

INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Presence of adhesive capsulitis, lymphedema.

RESULTS

The prevalence of adhesive capsulitis and lymphedema in this population was 22.2% and 33.3%, respectively. A history of mastectomy (odds ratio [OR], 3.93; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.23-12.63; P=.021), mastectomy with reconstruction (OR, 2.72; 95% CI, 1.27-30.54; P=.024), and lymphedema (OR, 7.92; 95% CI, 2.73-22.95; P<.001) were found to be significantly associated with adhesive capsulitis on multivariate analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

Adhesive capsulitis and lymphedema are common in breast cancer survivors. The design of cancer rehabilitation programs for breast cancer survivors should include surveillance and management of adhesive capsulitis, especially in the presence of lymphedema.