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Health-related quality of life in long-term breast cancer survivors: Nationwide survey in Denmark

  • Epidemiology
  • Published:
Breast Cancer Research and Treatment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Aim

To investigate health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in a nationally representative sample of long-term breast cancer survivors (BCS) in Denmark.

Participants and methods

An age-stratified random sample of 2,000 female BCS ≥ 5 years after primary surgery without recurrence was drawn from the Danish Breast Cancer Cooperative Group register, which is representative regarding long-term BCS in Denmark, and compared with 3,104 women of the nationally representative Danish Health and Morbidity Survey 2000. The Short Form-36 questionnaire assessed HRQOL and its association with BCS’ sociodemography, type of surgery, systemic therapy, radiotherapy, time since operation, receptor status, and low/high risk protocol.

Results

The response rate was 79%. BCS tended to rate HRQOL better than the general female population. BCS reported significantly less “bodily pain” (P < 0.0001), better “general health” (P < 0.0001), but worse “mental health” (P < 0.0001). Age interacted significantly with four other subscales (P < 0.05): Younger BCS reported worse HRQOL than equally aged women of the general population, while older BCS reported better HRQOL. Poor HRQOL was significantly associated with being single (all subscales: P < 0.05), short education (all subscales: P < 0.05, except “social function”), and high body mass index (“physical function”, “role physical”: P < 0.05). Breast cancer (low/high risk, receptor status) and treatment did not affect HRQOL.

Conclusion

HRQOL was similar between BCS and women of the general population. Potential long-term effects of breast cancer (low/high risk, receptor status) and treatment did not seem to impact HRQOL. However, predictors for worse HRQOL in BCS were being single, and having a short education.

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Acknowledgements

The project was financially supported mainly by the Danish Cancer Society. Further funding was received from the following funds: “Handelsgartner Ove William Buhl Olesen and wife Mrs. Edith Buhl Olesens’ “Mindelegat”, “Krista og Viggo Petersens’s Fond”, Beckett-Fonden”, Gangstedfonden”, and “Willy and Ingeborg Reinhards Fond”.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Multidisciplinary Pain Centre, University Hospital Rigshospitalet 7612, Blegdamsvej 9, Copenhagen Ø, 2100, Denmark

    Vera Peuckmann, Jørgen Eriksen & Per Sjøgren

  2. Department of Palliative Medicine and Department of Anaesthesiology, RWTH Aachen University Hospital, Pauwelsstr. 30, Aachen, 52074, Germany

    Vera Peuckmann

  3. National Institute of Public Health, Øster Farimagsgade 5A, Copenhagen K, 1399, Denmark

    Ola Ekholm & Niels Kristian Rasmussen

  4. Danish Breast Cancer Cooperative Group, DBCG Secretariat, Rigshospitalet 7003, Blegdamsvej 9, Copenhagen, 2100, Denmark

    Susanne Møller & Peer Christiansen

  5. Department of Palliative Medicine, Bispebjerg Hospital, Copenhagen NV, 2400, Denmark

    Mogens Groenvold

  6. Institute of Public Health, Department of Health Services Research, University of Copenhagen, Postbox 2099, Copenhagen K, 1014, Denmark

    Mogens Groenvold

  7. Department of Surgery P, Aarhus University Hospital, Tage-Hansens Gade 2, Aarhus C, 8000, Denmark

    Peer Christiansen

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  1. Vera Peuckmann
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  2. Ola Ekholm
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  8. Per Sjøgren
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Correspondence to Vera Peuckmann.

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Peuckmann, V., Ekholm, O., Rasmussen, N.K. et al. Health-related quality of life in long-term breast cancer survivors: Nationwide survey in Denmark. Breast Cancer Res Treat 104, 39–46 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-006-9386-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-006-9386-6

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