Abstract P1-11-17: Effects of depression, anxiety, and sexual functioning on quality of life among young breast cancer patients in Mexico
Authors: Villarreal-Garza C , Platas A , Miaja M , Lopez-Martinez EA , Muñoz-Lozano JF , Fonseca A , Pineda C , Barragan-Carrillo R , Martinez-Cannon BA , Chapman J-AW , Goss PE , Bargallo-Rocha JE , Mohar A , Castro-Sanchez A 
Published: May 2019

Background: Despite the disproportionately high-rates of breast cancer (BC) in young women in Mexico, cancer-control efforts have been predominantly aimed at improving oncological treatment, bypassing survivorship issues and supportive care for this group. The “Joven & Fuerte” cohort, the first supportive care and research program for young BC patients in Latin America, aims to describe and assess the burden of BC in young Mexican women. In this study, we focused on evaluating the association between quality of life (QoL) and anxiety, depression, and sexual functioning in young women with BC (≤ 40 years).

Methods: This study included non-metastatic and non-recurrent patients belonging to the cohort's pilot phase. QoL was assessed with the EORTC QLQ-C30 global score. Patients were classified in the domains of anxiety and depression with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) as either probable case, doubtful case, or not a case. Sexual functioning was assessed with the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and the sexual functioning and enjoyment domains of the EORTC QLQ-BR23. Assessments were performed at baseline, 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years. Pearson chi-square and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used for analysis. Nominal unadjusted significance is reported with p&lt;0.05.

Results: 73 out of 96 (76%) pilot phase patients met the inclusion criteria and had complete assessments up to 2 years follow-up. Global QoL was significantly worse for cases with anxiety and depression at baseline (means for non-cases, doubtful cases and cases, respectively: for anxiety, 81.09, 69.54, and 61.54, p&lt;.001; and for depression, 75.63, 64.17, and 55.00, p=0.01) and depression at 6 months (76.55, 66.67, and 35.42, respectively, p&lt;.001). Classification of case level anxiety was associated with FSFI morbidity during the first year (baseline, p=0.03; 6 months, p=0.09; 1 year, p=0.04). There was no significant association between case level depression and FSFI morbidity in the first 2 years. Neither anxiety nor depression was generally associated with significantly different BR23 sexual functioning or sexual enjoyment; however, a sporadic association was observed between anxiety and BR23 sexual functioning at 6 months (p=0.04).

Conclusion: This study confirmed an association between anxiety and/or depression and worse QoL at diagnosis of BC and after 6 months. Additionally, worse sexual function was significantly associated with the classification of case level anxiety. These findings support the current recommendation that physicians should regularly assess patients' psychosocial health and sexual functioning and provide prompt referral to corresponding supportive care services. Additional efforts must be conducted in low-resource settings, where sexual health and psychosocial care are not considered routine cancer treatment. Dedicated programs that promote multidisciplinary and supportive care services, such as “Joven & Fuerte”, should be incorporated into institutional health-care protocols to systematically address patients' emerging needs and improve QoL.

Citation Format: Villarreal-Garza C, Platas A, Miaja M, Lopez-Martinez EA, Muñoz-Lozano JF, Fonseca A, Pineda C, Barragan-Carrillo R, Martinez-Cannon BA, Chapman J-AW, Goss PE, Bargallo-Rocha JE, Mohar A, Castro-Sanchez A. Effects of depression, anxiety, and sexual functioning on quality of life among young breast cancer patients in Mexico [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2018 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2018 Dec 4-8; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P1-11-17.