Low bone density in breast cancer survivors in Korea: prevalence, risk factors and associations with health-related quality of life.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the prevalence and risk factors of low bone density and identify associations with health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in breast cancer survivors in Korea.


METHODS
This study was a cross-sectional descriptive study design. A total of 136 women with breast cancer who had completed their therapy were recruited at one university-based cancer center in Korea. Bone mineral density (BMD), health behaviors (physical activity, diet/nutrition behaviors, smoking, alcohol consumption, sunlight exposure), and HRQOL were measured.


RESULTS
Among the 136 breast cancer survivors, 49 women (36.0%) had osteopenia and six women (4.4%) had osteoporosis. Univariate analyses revealed that older age, low education level, low monthly income, tamoxifen therapy, aromatase inhibitor therapy, calcium supplement intake, and past or current smoking were associated with low bone density (BMD T-score < -1.0). In multivariate analyses, low economic status (OR = 2.22, p = 0.050) and past or current smoking (OR = 3.77, p = 0.039) were final risk factors of low bone density. In addition, women who had low bone density reported worse role function (p = 0.022) than women who did not.


CONCLUSIONS
Women of lower economic status or who are past or current smokers warrant monitoring and treatment strategies to reduce bone loss risk. Nurses may play a crucial role in screening this high-risk group for low bone density and in educating patients on the importance of healthy lifestyle changes.
Department of Nursing, Inha University, 253 Yonghyun-dong, Nam-gu, Incheon 410-742, Republic of Korea. soohyun@inha.ac.kr
Soo Hyun
SH
Kim
Young Up
YU
Cho
Sei Joong
SJ
Kim
Jung Eun
JE
Lee
Ji Hyun
JH
Kim
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology*; D001851:Bone Diseases, Metabolic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000097:blood
D014807:Vitamin D; D002118:Calcium