Influence of Age on Health-Related Quality of Life of Women Diagnosed with Breast Cancer

Abstract

Introduction: Women with breast cancer may have differences in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) at diagnosis by age. Objective: To analyze the influence of age on the HRQoL of women diagnosed with breast cancer. Method: Cross-sectional study was carried out with women diagnosed with breast cancer. HRQoL assessment was performed before starting cancer treatment, using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) and its specific breast cancer module (BR-23). Association between age group and HRQoL was determined through multiple linear regression. Results: 961 women were included in the study, with a mean age of 54 (SD±11.7). Women aged ≥50 years displayed better emotional functioning (+7.6 points; p<0.001), and less fatigue (-4.4 points; p=0.014), pain (-4.7 points; p=0.033), nausea and vomiting (-2.3 points; p=0.030) and financial difficulties (-10.3 points; p<0.001) compared to younger women. Concerning the BR-23 module, these women displayed better body image scores (+3.6 points; p=0.029) and future perspective (+12.4 points; p<0.001), and worse sexual functioning (-19.9 points; p<0.001) and sexual enjoyment (-8.9 points; p=0.001), and on the symptom scale, less breast symptoms (-11.6 points; p<0.001) and arm symptoms (-3.5 points; p=0.047). Conclusion: Patients aged ≥50 years exhibited better HRQoL in all QLQ C-30 and BR-23 functioning scales and symptom scales, except for sexual functioning and sexual enjoyment.