An Investigation on Body Composition, Bone Parameters, Physiological Function, Quality of Life and Cancer-Related Fatigue in Malaysian Breast Cancer Survivors

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The aim of the study is to determine the correlation of body composition, bone parameters, physiological functions, with the quality of life (QoL) and cancer-related fatigue (CRF) among Malaysian breast cancer survivors. MATERIALS AND METHODS:  Eighty-three female breast cancer survivors participated. Assessments of body composition, bone speed of sound (SOS), and T-score. Physiological functions consisted of handgrip strength, shoulder and lower body flexibility, and peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) were performed on the participants. The Breast Cancer Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy questionnaire was used for determining their QoL, while the Brief Fatigue Inventory scale questionnaire was used for assessing the CRF.Descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation were performed for statistical analysis. RESULTS: The mean T-score value for the right and left radius and tibia of the participants ranged between -1 and -2.5 SD, i.e., under the osteopenia category. There was no significant correlation between the percentage of body fat and fat-free mass with components of QoL and CRF, respectively. In addition, statistically significant positive correlations of bone SOS with components of QoL were not evidenced. A significant negative correlation was found between left handgrip strength and CRF (r=–0.240, p=0.032). However, no statistically significant correlations were observed between shoulder and lower body flexibility or PEFR with components of QoL and CRF, respectively. CONCLUSION: Higher handgrip strength of participants was related to lower CRF. Thus, the aspect of improvement of muscular strength of the arm should be emphasized while designing interventions for rehabilitation among breast cancer survivors.