TY - JOUR

T1 - Health care utilisation and characteristics of long-term breast cancer survivors: nationwide survey in Denmark

AU - Peuckmann, V

AU - Ekholm, O

AU - Sjøgren, P

AU - Rasmussen, N K

AU - Christiansen, P

AU - Møller, S

AU - Groenvold, M

N1 - Keywords: Activities of Daily Living; Adult; Aged; Attitude to Health; Breast Neoplasms; Denmark; Employment; Female; Health Services; Health Status; Health Surveys; Humans; Mastectomy; Middle Aged; Motor Activity; Quality of Life; Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; Sick Leave; Survivors

PY - 2008

Y1 - 2008

N2 - AIM: To investigate long-term female breast cancer survivors' (BCS') health care utilisation, health, and employment. METHODS: An age-stratified random sample of 2000 female breast cancer survivors (BCS) 5-15 years after primary surgery without recurrence was drawn from the Danish Breast Cancer Cooperative Group register. A self-administered questionnaire assessed sociodemography, health care utilisation, employment, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Associations with breast cancer treatment were investigated. RESULTS: Response rate was 79%. Significantly more BCS than the general women population reported health care utilisation (61% versus. 56%; age-standardised risk ratio (SRR): 1.10; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.05-1.15), but significantly fewer BCS were disability pensioners (15% versus 19%; SRR: 0.77; 95% CI 0.64-0.93). 'Daily activities limited due to sequelae' were reported by 20%, and 'stopped working/changed job due to sequelae' by 11% of BCS. In multiple logistic regression analysis, radiotherapy (odds ratio (OR) 2.54; 95% CI 1.34-4.80) and endocrine therapy (OR 2.48; 95% CI 1.13-5.45, postmenopausal women only) were significantly related to 'stopped working/changed job due to sequelae'. Time since surgery 5-10 years (versus >10 years) was significantly associated with 'daily activities limited due to sequelae' (OR 2.02; CI 1.43-2.84), which, in turn, was significantly related to poorer HRQOL (all p<0.05). Chemotherapy, receptor status, and protocol allocation did not show significant associations in any analyses. CONCLUSION: Significantly more BCS reported health care utilisation. Radiotherapy, shorter time since surgery, and endocrine therapy predicted daily activity and work limitations due to sequelae.

AB - AIM: To investigate long-term female breast cancer survivors' (BCS') health care utilisation, health, and employment. METHODS: An age-stratified random sample of 2000 female breast cancer survivors (BCS) 5-15 years after primary surgery without recurrence was drawn from the Danish Breast Cancer Cooperative Group register. A self-administered questionnaire assessed sociodemography, health care utilisation, employment, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Associations with breast cancer treatment were investigated. RESULTS: Response rate was 79%. Significantly more BCS than the general women population reported health care utilisation (61% versus. 56%; age-standardised risk ratio (SRR): 1.10; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.05-1.15), but significantly fewer BCS were disability pensioners (15% versus 19%; SRR: 0.77; 95% CI 0.64-0.93). 'Daily activities limited due to sequelae' were reported by 20%, and 'stopped working/changed job due to sequelae' by 11% of BCS. In multiple logistic regression analysis, radiotherapy (odds ratio (OR) 2.54; 95% CI 1.34-4.80) and endocrine therapy (OR 2.48; 95% CI 1.13-5.45, postmenopausal women only) were significantly related to 'stopped working/changed job due to sequelae'. Time since surgery 5-10 years (versus >10 years) was significantly associated with 'daily activities limited due to sequelae' (OR 2.02; CI 1.43-2.84), which, in turn, was significantly related to poorer HRQOL (all p<0.05). Chemotherapy, receptor status, and protocol allocation did not show significant associations in any analyses. CONCLUSION: Significantly more BCS reported health care utilisation. Radiotherapy, shorter time since surgery, and endocrine therapy predicted daily activity and work limitations due to sequelae.

U2 - 10.1016/j.ejca.2008.09.027

DO - 10.1016/j.ejca.2008.09.027

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 19036577

VL - 45

SP - 625

EP - 633

JO - European Journal of Cancer, Supplement

JF - European Journal of Cancer, Supplement

SN - 0959-8049

IS - 4

ER -