Abstract C42: Correlates of health-related quality of life among African-American survivors of ovarian cancer: Results from the AACES Study
Authors: Anderson Roger T. , Camacho Fabian , Bandera Elisa , Funkhouser Ellen , Moorman Patricia , Paddock Lisa , Peres Lauren C. , Peters Edward , Abbott Sarah E. , Alberg Anthony J. , Barnholtz-Sloan Jill , Bondy Melissa , Cote Michele L. , Schwartz Ann , Terry Paul , Schildkraut Joellen 
Published: February 2019

Background: The incidence of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is lower among African-American (AA) women compared to European American (EA) women (9.8 vs. 13.0 cases/100,000), but AA women have markedly worse outcomes. The purpose of this study is to describe the health-related quality of life (HRQL) in AA women with EOC and its correlates using data from a multisite population-based case-control study of invasive EOC in AA women, the African American Cancer Epidemiology Study (AACES).

Methods: 215 cases completed a first annual follow-up questionnaire, including the HRQL and psychosocial surveys &lt;18 months post diagnosis. The primary HRQL outcome was assessed with SF-8 component scores for physical (PCS) and mental (MCS) health. Correlates examined were patient, disease and treatment characteristics, modified Charlson index, perceived social support, perceived discrimination, leisure-time physical activity, the Life Orientation Test (LOTR), and phobic anxiety (Crown-Crisp Inventory, CCI-PA). Ordinary least squares regression was used to estimate linear trend effects for all predictors adjusting for age at diagnosis, comorbidity, BMI, stage and income.

Results: Higher household family income, lower phobic anxiety, higher social support, and higher leisure physical activity levels were associated with higher MCS and PCS (p &lt; 0.01). Higher perceived discrimination was associated with both lower MCS and PCS, while higher optimism (LOTR) was associated with higher MCS. In multivariable analyses including all predictors, CCI-PA and LOTR remained significant predictors of MCS (p &lt; 0.01), and BMI, phobic anxiety, and social support predicted PCS (p &lt; 0.001).

Conclusion: Prediagnosis characteristics and exposures of AA women with EOC are important predictors of HRQL after cancer diagnosis, and in AACES were more important than tumor characteristics. Cancer survivorship programs that enhance patients' social support and physical activity could have important benefits by reducing emotional distress and increasing perceived vitality.

Citation Format: Roger T. Anderson, Fabian Camacho, Elisa Bandera, Ellen Funkhouser, Patricia Moorman, Lisa Paddock, Lauren C. Peres, Edward Peters, Sarah E. Abbott, Anthony J. Alberg, Jill Barnholtz-Sloan, Melissa Bondy, Michele L. Cote, Ann Schwartz, Paul Terry, Joellen Schildkraut. Correlates of health-related quality of life among African-American survivors of ovarian cancer: Results from the AACES Study [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Tenth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2017 Sep 25-28; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2018;27(7 Suppl):Abstract nr C42.