Regional features of disability of breast cancer patients in the Volgograd region

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer (BC) is the leading oncological pathology in the female population of Russia. Analysis of regional features of disability of breast cancer patients is necessary when assessing the effectiveness of specialized medical care.
 AIM: Study of the structure and dynamics of disability of BC patients in the Volgograd region.
 MATHERIALS AND METHODS: The object of the study was BC patients who were recognized as disabled for the first time and repeatedly in the Volgograd region. The study period is 5 years from 2018 to 2022 with an annual analysis of the number of people with disabilities depending on age. Research methods: study of statistical forms, statistical analysis.
 RESULTS: For 5 years of follow-up in the Volgograd region, the contingent of disabled BC patients included 11942: in 2018 — 2225, in 2019 — 2135, in 2020 — 2268, in 2021 — 2487, in 2022 — 2827 women. Of these, 1553 (13%) were young patients, 2780 (23.3%) were middle-aged and 7609 (63.7%) were elderly. The increase in the total number of disabled people over 5 years was 602 (27.1%): young by 130 (49.1%), middle-aged by 151 (29.5%) and elderly by 321 (22.2%) (p=0.003). The established disability groups were distributed among the entire contingent of disabled people: group I — in 831 (7.0%), group II — in 4526 (37.9%) and group III — in 6585 (55.1%) patients. There were no statistically significant differences in the distribution of disability groups depending on the age of the patients. At the initial examination, group I was found in 11.88% of patients, and group II in 39.25% of patients. At the second examination, group III — in 57.33% (an increase of 8.53% against 48.8% during the initial examination). There was a steady trend of a significant increase in the number of patients of all age groups with recurrent disabilities. An analysis of the work activity of patients showed that with the first and re-established disability, 43% were engaged in physical work, 33% — mental work, and 24% did not have a profession.
 CONCLUSION: To reduce the number of disabled BC patients is needed the use of screening programs, medical rehabilitation to minimize the complications of treatment of breast cancer. The results obtained in the course of the study should be used at the level of regional health care to improve medical and social rehabilitation.