The prevalence rate of deviations in body constitutions and related factors in follow-up stage breast cancer patients—A nationwide study

Abstract

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to apply a rigorous traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) body constitution questionnaire (BCQ) to survey the prevalence rate of deviations in body constitution and to explore the health-related lifestyle behavior factors of deviations in body constitution. DesignA cross-sectional study was administered through postal mail. Subjects were recruited from a national organization for breast cancer patients (Taiwan Breast Cancer Alliance). Setting/main outcome measuresData were obtained from 311 breast cancer patients by questionnaires including a demographic record sheet, lifestyle behavior scales and the BCQ (Yang-Xu, Yin-Xu, and Stasis). Differences concerning the presence of body constitutions were analyzed by Chi-square tests and analyses of variance, and potential predictive factors were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression. ResultsIn total, 55.3% of the subjects had a Yang-Xu constitution, 61.0% had a Yin-Xu constitution, and 47.6% had a Stasis constitution. A total of 42.8% of the patients displayed a combination of the three types of body constitutions. Feeling stressed, physical exercise, and favoring fried food were predictors of the combined Yang-Xu, Yin-Xu and Stasis constitutions (p<0.05). Staying up late was significantly associated with Yin-Xu (p=0.017), and favoring salty food was significantly associated with Stasis (p=0.019). ConclusionsA high prevalence of deviations in body constitutions was observed in the follow-up stage of breast cancer patients. Increasing the adherence to healthy lifestyle behaviors might strengthen and balance body constitution, which could improve supportive care in breast cancer survivors.