Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the onset and persistence of metabolic syndrome in breast cancer survivors in a community setting. The study included 329 female breast cancer survivors from 39 community health examination centers located in 14 urban areas in Korea. After an average of 4.6 years of follow-up, based on the presence of metabolic syndrome at baseline and follow-up, the subjects were assigned to three groups: Non-metabolic syndrome (n = 249), onset (n = 32), and persistent (n = 48). Factors associated with the metabolic syndrome were analyzed and presented as odds ratios (ORs). Older age, postmenopausal status, lower education, and lower-income level were associated with an increased prevalence of metabolic syndrome in the onset Mets and persistent Mets group. In particular, when the breast cancer survivor was obese (≥25 kg/m2), the probability of developing metabolic syndrome was 3.33 times higher than normal-weight subjects (<23 kg/m2) and the probability of metabolic syndrome persisting was 16.34 times. When breast cancer survivors were in their 60s or older, the probability of metabolic syndrome persisting was 4.27 times higher than those in their 40s. To prevent the onset and persistence of metabolic syndrome in breast cancer survivors, health-care providers should identify risk factors. Obesity, in particular, should be controlled.
Highlights
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in Korean women (19.9%) and its incidence increases yearly
This study identified risk factors for the onset and persistence of metabolic syndrome in breast cancer survivors
Those who were postmenopausal, who had lower levels of education and income, and the more obese were more likely to develop or have persistent metabolic syndrome. It is important for health-care providers to identify the risk factors associated with breast cancer survivors in the community and to mediate them in a multifaceted manner
Summary
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in Korean women (19.9%) and its incidence increases yearly. The relative survival rate of breast cancer has significantly improved to 92.7% [2], due to an increase in cancer screening and a rise in cancer treatment scores. This has resulted in a surge in the number of breast cancer survivors. Breast cancer survivors have been reported to have a 1.3 times higher incidence of cardiovascular disease than the general population [4] and a 1.8 times higher risk of death from cardiovascular disease than women without breast cancer [5]. A previous study has shown that the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in breast cancer survivors was reported to be up to 20–50% [8,9,10], 1.66 times, higher than in those without breast cancer [9]
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