Abstract A74: Metabolic syndrome in Latina breast cancer survivors after adjuvant chemotherapy
Authors: Dieli-Conwright Christina M. , Mortimer Joanne E. , Spicer Darcy , Tripathy Debu 
Published: May 2016

Metabolic syndrome (MetS), an obesity-related co-morbidity, is a long-term complication of curative treatment for many cancers including breast, prostate, and testicular. MetS is more prevalent in Latinas when compared to Caucasians and non-Latina African Americans, increasing the need to characterize the occurrence of MetS in Latina breast cancer survivors following treatment for breast cancer. The aim of the current study was to determine if MetS occurs following the completion of adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer in Latino women. Women with early stage (I-III) breast cancers who have undergone adjuvant cytotoxic chemotherapy within 6 months prior to study enrollment were recruited. Outcome measures were tested during a single visit and included MetS components: a) waist circumference assessed at the midpoint between the lower margin of the last palpable rib and the top of the iliac crest; b) blood pressure measured under resting conditions using an automated BP device; c) high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C); d) triglycerides; e) fasting blood glucose. MetS blood markers were obtained from a fasting (12 hours) blood draw. The following criteria were used to define MetS (3 out 5 components): a) Waist circumference (≥ 32 in); b) Elevated triglycerides (≥150 mg/dL or on drug treatment for elevated triglycerides); c) Reduced HDL-C (&lt;40 mg/dL); d) Elevated blood pressure (≥130/85 mm Hg or on antihypertensive drug treatment); e) Elevated fasting blood glucose (≥100 mg/dL or on drug treatment for elevated glucose). Descriptive statistics were performed to describe MetS components for the study sample. The 5 MetS components were examined individually, and collectively such that each participant was given a score out of 5 to determine MetS status. Forty-eight Latina breast cancer survivors (including 22 premenopausal and 26 postmenopausal women) were included in our analysis with a mean age of 54.2±12.1 years. Further, 98% of the women were obese (body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m2; mean 35.1±8.7) and the overall average % body fat was 46.7±5.1. MetS was diagnosed in 95.8% (46/48) of the participants with an average MetS score of 4.1±1.3. MetS components were measured as follows: waist circumference 40.3±4.3 in; blood pressure 134(±6.4)/96.3(±8.2) mmHg; triglycerides 199.3±23.9 mg/dL; HDL-C 43.7±14.8 mg/dL; glucose 98.6±15.8. Four of the 5 components of MetS were measured above the diagnostic level. Our results suggest that MetS is diagnosed in more than 95% of obese Latina breast cancer survivors. Feasible and effective interventions, such as diet and exercise, are warranted to address the prevalence of MetS in this population.

Citation Format: Christina M. Dieli-Conwright, Joanne E. Mortimer, Darcy Spicer, Debu Tripathy. Metabolic syndrome in Latina breast cancer survivors after adjuvant chemotherapy. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Eighth AACR Conference on The Science of Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; Nov 13-16, 2015; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2016;25(3 Suppl):Abstract nr A74.