Prevalence and risk factors for self-reported sexual dysfunction in Hispanic female breast cancer survivors 0-3 years post-cancer treatment: Results of a single-center retrospective study.

Abstract

e24039 Background: Improvements in breast cancer screening and treatment have improved survival for many women in the U.S. However, side-effects associated with cancer treatment remain a serious issue for survivors. It is estimated that up to half or more of female breast cancer survivors (BSC) report unwanted changes in sexual function following cancer treatment. Studies have also suggested that both younger BCS and Hispanic women may be at higher risk for developing sexual dysfunction following treatment. However, women of Hispanic origin remain highly underrepresented in research on sexual dysfunction, despite being one of the fastest growing racial/ethnic populations in the U.S. The purpose of this study was to compare the prevalence and risk factors for sexual dysfunction between Hispanic and non-Hispanic BCS during the first-three years post-cancer treatment. Methods: Data for this single-center, non-randomized, retrospective study came from a database of self-reported symptom data collected as part of routine clinical practice in our institution’s Survivorship Clinic. Results: Over a 2.8-year period between Apr. 2017 and Dec. 2019, a total 815 female BCS were evaluated for sexual dysfunction. Nearly two-thirds (63.0%) of BCS identified as Hispanic, and 37.0% (n = 302) of BCS identified as non-Hispanic. Mean age of the sample was 58.4 ± 11.7 (range: 24.2–91.8). Results found that approximately a quarter (25.8%) of BCS reported “vaginal dryness, discharge, or pain with intercourse” at their initial survivorship visit. Rates of sexual dysfunction were nearly identical between Hispanic and Non-Hispanic BCS (25.7% vs. 25.8%; p = 0.975). Consistent with previous studies, BCS who reported sexual dysfunction tended to be younger, on average (53.7±10.5 years vs. 60.0 ±11.6 years; p = 0.002) and more likely to have been diagnosed with Stage 2 or 3 cancer (p = 0.038) than BCS not reporting sexual dysfunction. Multivariate logistic regression models using age, race, stage of cancer, chemotherapy, radiation type, and hormone therapy as predictors confirmed this association between younger age and likelihood of sexual dysfunction, showing that for every one-year younger BCS were at their initial survivorship visit, the odds of reporting sexual dysfunction at the initial survivorship visit increased by approximately 6.5% (OR: 0.943, 95% CI: 0.927-0.96; p < .0001). Conclusions: Results suggest that signs/symptoms such as vaginal dryness, discharge, or pain with intercourse are common for both Hispanic and non-Hispanic BCS following treatment, affecting as many as one in four BCS. Results also show that symptoms are prevalent among younger BCS. Together, results underscore the need for clinicians to be prepared to assess and manage sexual dysfunction, especially in younger BCS.