title: Physical Functioning among Women 80 Years of Age and Older With and Without a Cancer History.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Females 80 years and older comprise 22% of the total U.S. survivor population, yet the impact of cancer on the physical well-being of women is this age group has not been well characterized.
  
  
  METHODS
  We compared women, 80 years of age and older in the Women's Health Initiative extension 2, who did (n = 2,270) and did not (n = 20,272) have an adjudicated history of cancer during Women's Health Initiative enrollment; analyses focused on women >2-years postcancer diagnosis. The physical functioning subscale of the RAND-36 was the primary outcome. Demographic, health-status, and psychosocial covariates were drawn from Women's Health Initiative assessments. Analysis of covariance was used to examine the effect of cancer history on physical function, with and without adjustment for covariates.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In adjusted models, women with a history of cancer reported significantly lower mean physical functioning (56.6, standard error [SE] 0.4) than those without a cancer history (58.0, SE 0.1), p = .002. In these models, younger current age, lower body mass index, increased physical activity, higher self-rated health, increased reported happiness, and the absence of noncancer comorbid conditions were all associated with higher physical functioning in both women with and without a history of cancer.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Women older than 80 years of age with a cancer history have only a moderately lower level of physical function than comparably aged women without a cancer history. Factors associated with higher levels of physical functioning were similar in both groups.
authors: Wake Forest School of Medicine, Department of Social Sciences and Health Policy, Winston-Salem, North Carolina. keweaver@wakehealth.edu.
authors: Kathryn E
authors: KE
authors: Weaver
authors: The American Cancer Society, Behavioral Research Center Atlanta, GA.
authors: Corinne R
authors: CR
authors: Leach
authors: Wake Forest School of Medicine, Department of Biostatistical Sciences Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
authors: Xiaoyan
authors: X
authors: Leng
authors: Wake Forest School of Medicine, Department of Social Sciences and Health Policy, Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Wake Forest School of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Section on Hematology and Oncology Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
authors: Suzanne C
authors: SC
authors: Danhauer
authors: Wake Forest School of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Section on Hematology and Oncology Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
authors: Heidi D
authors: HD
authors: Klepin
authors: Wake Forest School of Medicine, Department of Social Sciences and Health Policy, Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
authors: Leslie
authors: L
authors: Vaughan
authors: Wake Forest School of Medicine, Department of Social Sciences and Health Policy, Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
authors: Michelle
authors: M
authors: Naughton
authors: Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center Torrance, California.
authors: Rowan T
authors: RT
authors: Chlebowski
authors: Wake Forest School of Medicine, Department of Epidemiology and Prevention Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
authors: Mara Z
authors: MZ
authors: Vitolins
authors: The Ohio State University, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine Columbus, Ohio.
authors: Electra
authors: E
authors: Paskett
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D017741:Survivors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D016387:Women's Health
keywords: Cancer; Comorbidities; Physical function; Survivor; Women