Data from Postdiagnosis Weight Change and Survival Following a Diagnosis of Early-Stage Breast Cancer

Abstract

<div>Abstract<p><b>Background:</b> Achieving a healthy weight is recommended for all breast cancer survivors. Previous research on postdiagnosis weight change and mortality had conflicting results.</p><p><b>Methods:</b> We examined whether change in body weight in the 18 months following diagnosis is associated with overall and breast cancer–specific mortality in a cohort of <i>n</i> = 12,590 stage I–III breast cancer patients at Kaiser Permanente using multivariable-adjusted Cox regression models. Follow-up was from the date of the postdiagnosis weight at 18 months until death or June 2015 [median follow-up (range): 3 (0–9) years]. We divided follow-up into earlier (18–54 months) and later (>54 months) postdiagnosis periods.</p><p><b>Results:</b> Mean (SD) age-at-diagnosis was 59 (11) years. A total of 980 women died, 503 from breast cancer. Most women maintained weight within 5% of diagnosis body weight; weight loss and gain were equally common at 19% each. Compared with weight maintenance, large losses (≥10%) were associated with worse survival, with HRs and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for all-cause death of 2.63 (2.12–3.26) earlier and 1.60 (1.14–2.25) later in follow-up. Modest losses (>5%–<10%) were associated with worse survival earlier [1.39 (1.11–1.74)] but not later in follow-up [0.77 (0.54–1.11)]. Weight gain was not related to survival. Results were similar for breast cancer–specific death.</p><p><b>Conclusion:</b> Large postdiagnosis weight loss is associated with worse survival in both earlier and later postdiagnosis periods, independent of treatment and prognostic factors.</p><p><b>Impact:</b> Weight loss and gain are equally common after breast cancer, and weight loss is a consistent marker of mortality risk. <i>Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 26(1); 44–50. ©2016 AACR</i>.</p><p>See all the articles in this <a href="http://cebp.aacrjournals.org/content/26/1.toc#CEBPFocus" target="_blank"><i>CEBP Focus</i></a> section, “The Obesity Paradox in Cancer: Evidence and New Directions.”</p></div>