title: Increased cardiovascular risk factors in breast cancer survivors identified by routine measurements of body composition, resting heart rate and arterial blood pressure.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The main objective of this prospective study was to obtain a better understanding of the body composition and vital sign measures of cancers survivors (CS) when compared to regular (R) patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 9,315 female patients were evaluated: 476 CS and 8,839 R patients. Kinesiologists worked side by side with the medical/oncology team to collect a number of base-line measurements on body composition, resting heart rate, and blood pressure as part of the standard intake evaluation during the female patients' annual checkup.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CS were more likely to have a higher BMI (P = 0.001) and a larger waist circumference (P = 0.001) than R patients. CS were also shown to have higher blood pressure values: diastolic pressure of 76.9 mmHg ± 10.5 VS 75.5 mmHg ± 9.9, (P = 0.01) and systolic pressure of 129.8 mmHg ± 17.2 VS 126.7 mmHg ±17.4 (P = 0.001) compared to R patients, respectively. Regression analysis looking at the relationship between mean arterial pressure and waist circumference did not show any difference between the two groups (CS vs R).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CS who had a higher BMI, a larger waist circumference and higher blood pressure levels, are probably at greater risk for developing cardiovascular disease, diabetes, various musculoskeletal problems as well as an increased risk for various forms of cancers including reoccurrence of previously treated cancer when compared to R patients. Changes in body composition should be considered by the medical team when looking at preventative healthcare strategies for their CS patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Quebec in Montreal, Montreal, QC H3C 3P8 Canada ; Department of Exercise Science, The Richard J. Renaud Science Complex, Concordia University, Montreal, QC H4B 1R6 Canada ; Integrative Health & Wellness, VM Medical Centre, Montreal, QC H3G 1L5 Canada.
authors.forename: David H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: Integrative Health & Wellness, VM Medical Centre, Montreal, QC H3G 1L5 Canada.
authors.forename: Melisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nestore
authors.affiliation: Integrative Health & Wellness, VM Medical Centre, Montreal, QC H3G 1L5 Canada.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Henophy
authors.affiliation: Integrative Health & Wellness, VM Medical Centre, Montreal, QC H3G 1L5 Canada.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cousin
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinanthropology, University of Quebec in Montreal, Montreal, QC H3C 3P8 Canada.
authors.forename: Alain Steve
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Comtois
keywords: Blood pressure; Breast cancer; Waist circumference