Abstract 2255: Social support with physical and psychosocial quality of life in individuals with prostate cancer in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study (HPFS)
Authors: Chen Naiyu , McGrath Colleen B. , Dickerman Barbra A. , Nethery Rachel C. , Mucci Lorelei A. 
Published: March 2024

Introduction: Social support is associated with improved cancer survivorship, but literature on its association with prostate cancer specific physical and psychosocial quality of life (QoL) is lacking. We investigated the associations of social support with physical and psychosocial QoL in individuals with prostate cancer in HPFS. Methods: We included 1,692 men (ages 61-95 years, mean: 71 years) diagnosed with non-metastatic prostate cancer between 2008 and 2016. Social support was measured by the Berkman-Syme Social Network Index (SNI) (a composite measure of marital status, sociability, membership in religious groups or other community organizations: socially isolated, moderately isolated, moderately integrated, socially integrated) and marital status (married, not married). Physical (measured by EPIC-CP: bowel function, urinary incontinence, urinary irritation/obstruction, sexual function, vitality/hormonal function) and psychosocial (memory function and wellbeing) QoL were measured through biennial questionnaires. We fit generalized linear and ordinal mixed effect models for the associations of SNI and marital status with physical and psychosocial QoL, adjusting for age, race, employment status, body mass index, comorbidities, smoking history, and clinical factors. We conducted stratified analyses by baseline age (&lt;70, ≥70), baseline comorbidities (yes, no), primary treatment (active surveillance, radical prostatectomy, radiation), and D’Amico Risk Classification at diagnosis (low, intermediate, high risk). Results: Among those with baseline SNI (N=1,586), 740 were socially integrated, 309 were moderately integrated, 437 were moderately isolated, and 100 were isolated. Among those with baseline marital status (N=1,663), 89% were married. Physical QoL did not differ significantly by SNI. Married individuals (compared to not married) experienced less urinary incontinence (β -0.25, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.55, 0.05) and urinary irritation/obstruction (β -0.26, 95% CI: -0.52, 0.00). Those who were socially integrated (compared to isolated) reported better memory function (Odds ratio [OR] 1.47, 95% CI 1.06, 2.03) and wellbeing (OR 1.74, 95% CI 1.31, 2.31). The positive association between social support and QoL was stronger among those with baseline aged &lt;70 years (for vitality/hormonal functioning and memory function), those without comorbidities at baseline (for memory function), those with radiation as primary treatment (for urinary incontinence, vitality/hormonal functioning, memory function, and wellbeing), and those with high risk (for memory function and wellbeing). Conclusion: Prostate cancer survivors with more social support experienced better quality of life, including less urinary incontinence and urinary irritation/obstruction, and better memory function and wellbeing.

Citation Format: Naiyu Chen, Colleen B. McGrath, Barbra A. Dickerman, Rachel C. Nethery, Lorelei A. Mucci. Social support with physical and psychosocial quality of life in individuals with prostate cancer in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study (HPFS) [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 2255.