Factors associated with health-related quality of life in a cohort of Spanish breast cancer patients.

Background: Several factors can modify health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of breast cancer survivors. The objective of the current study was to analyse the associations between HRQOL scores 1 year after breast cancer surgery and sociodemographic and clinical factors.

Methods: This was an observational, multicentre and prospective study of a cohort of patients who underwent oncological breast cancer surgery and which was followed up for 1 year. The HRQOL was assessed at 1 year after surgery using three questionnaires: EuroQol-5D, EORTC QLQ-C30 and its breast-specific module BR-23.

Results: A total of 364 patients participated in the study. Some factors were associated with better HRQOL 1 year after surgery: age between 60 and 69 years and under 50 years, being single or a housewife, stage I-II, invasive papillary carcinoma, breast-conserving surgery (BCS) or lack of axillary dissection. However, only the following were independent predictive factors: being single or a housewife, BCS, invasive papillary carcinoma, coming from an outpatient clinic or not receiving radiotherapy. Further, some factors were independent predictors of a worse HRQOL: age over 70 years, being married, separated or widowed, stage III or not receiving adjuvant chemotherapy.

Conclusions: Demographic and clinical factors can influence HRQOL, some of them independently.