Impact of cardiometabolic health and abdominal adipose tissue on physical function in women with breast cancer (WF-97415).
Authors: Heiston Emily M , Mabudian Leila , O'Connell Nathaniel S. , D'Agostino Ralph , Brubaker Peter H. , Mihalko Shannon L. , Reding Kerryn , Bellissimo Moriah , Ladd Amy , Lucas Alexander , Jordan Jennifer , Ky Bonnie , Calhoun Tonya , Hackney Mary Helen , Weaver Kathryn E. , Lesser Glenn Jay , Hundley W. Gregory 
Published: June 2022

e18696

Background: Breast cancer treatments often result in a decline in physical function that may be worsened by high levels of abdominal adipose tissue (AAT). However, the role of cardiometabolic health, which is comprised of interrelated risk factors of insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and central adiposity, has been infrequently addressed. Thus, we evaluated the relationship between physical function and cardiometabolic health controlling for AAT in women with breast cancer before and during receipt of potentially cardiotoxic chemotherapy. Methods: Women recruited through NCORP with stage I-III breast cancer completed a six-minute walk distance (6MWD) test to determine physical function, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to evaluate AAT, and assessments of cardiometabolic health before and following 3 months of chemotherapy. Specifically, MRI was used to measure waist circumference (WC), and AAT components of subcutaneous (SAT) and visceral adipose tissue (VAT). To assess cardiometabolic health, individual metabolic syndrome (MetS) components of WC, mean arterial pressure (MAP), glucose (FPG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), and triglycerides (TG) were used to calculate a MetS severity z-score (MetS-Z) = [(WC-88)/SD] + [(MAP-100)/SD] + [(FPG-100)/SD] + [(50-HDL)/SD] + [(TG-150)/SD]. All measures were assessed by individuals blinded to visit, demographic data, and other components of the study. Baseline and 3-month data were compared via paired t-tests. Regression analyses were used to identify the relationship between 6MWD and MetS-Z and possible mediation effects of AAT (i.e., SAT and VAT). Results: One hundred eleven women with a mean age of 56.1 ± 11.0 yrs completed assessments. After 3 months of chemotherapy, 6MWD was lower (457 ± 90.7 vs 428 ± 92.9 m, P= 0.001) and MetS-Z was increased (-1.13 ± 3.01 vs 0.30 ± 3.97 AU, P< 0.001) compared to baseline. The increase in MetS-Z was mainly attributed to elevations in TG (120 ± 81 vs 154 ± 111 mg/dl, P< 0.001) and decreases in HDL (58.6 ± 14.3 vs 47.7 ± 13.9 mg/dl, P< 0.001). No changes were observed in SAT ( P= 0.15) or VAT ( P= 0.42). Although MetS-Z was associated with 6MWD at baseline ( P= 0.01), MetS-Z was not significant predictor after controlling for SAT and VAT (B = -3.39, P= 0.34, 95% CI [-10.4, 3.62]). MetS-Z also associated wtih 6MWD at 3 months ( P= 0.002) and this remained significant after controlling for SAT and VAT (B = -5.36, P= 0.03, 95% CI [-10.3, -0.46]). Conclusions: AAT may be more strongly associated with physical function prior to chemotherapy whereas cardiometabolic traits may have clinical implications during treatment in women with breast cancer. Additional longitudinal work investigating the effects of concurrent treatments (e.g., exercise, diet, pharmacological) on the relationship between cardiometabolic health and physical function is warranted. Clinical trial information: NCT02791581.