The metabolic risk profile of breast cancer survivors 2 to 6 months post-chemotherapy.

Abstract

e19612 Background: Overweight and obesity are associated with poor outcomes for patients with breast cancer. Physical inactivity coupled with weight gain during treatment place breast cancer survivors at risk of developing obesity related problems including the metabolic syndrome (MetSyn). We report baseline findings of an ancillary study to an ongoing randomised controlled trial (PEACH trial) (Walsh J.M. et al. 2010 Pragmatic Randomized Trial of Individually Prescribed Exercise versus Usual Care in Heterogeneous Cancer Survivor Population. A Feasibility Study. PEACH: Prescribed Exercise After Chemotherapy. BMC Cancer. 10[42]) examining the effect of exercise on the metabolic risk profile of breast cancer survivors, 2-6 months post chemotherapy. Methods: Breast cancer survivors who consented to partake in the PEACH trial were requested to participate. The five clinical features of the MetSyn were measured: waist circumference, resting blood pressure, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and fasting glucose, along with a lipid profile and C – Reactive Protein (CRP). Insulin resistance was estimated by the homeostatic model assessment (HOMA) index. Subjects were classified with the MetSyn if they presented with three of the five clinical features. Results: Eighteen subjects (mean (±SD) age 46.17±7.93 years) have completed assessments, 44% were overweight and 28% obese. Four subjects were classified with the MetSyn and a further 7 presented with two clinical features. Fourteen subjects (77.8%) were centrally obese with a mean waist circumference of 87.6±9.89cm. The mean total cholesterol level was 5.37±1.02 mol/L, with 11 subjects (61.1%) presenting with measurements above 5.2mol/L. The mean HOMA score was 1.93±1.16. CRP levels were low at < 10.00mg/L. Conclusions: Results indicate that breast cancer survivors present with an unfavourable metabolic profile in the six months following chemotherapy. The high percentage of subjects presenting with an elevated waist circumference is concerning and may contribute to further development of MetSyn. Interventions to target this problem including diet and exercise are warranted in this population.