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Association between race and physical functioning limitations among breast cancer survivors

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Abstract

Purpose

The goal of this study was to examine differences in physical functioning limitations among African-American and white breast cancer survivors.

Methods

Data were analyzed from 115 African-American and 712 white breast cancer survivors who responded to a hospital registry-based survey. Physical functioning limitations were assessed using a series of eight questions in which individuals were asked about their ability to perform a physical task such as walking a quarter of a mile. A four-category summary score, representing overall severity of limitation, was created using participant responses to the eight questions. Ordinal logistic regression was used to estimate the odds ratio (OR) and 95 % confidence interval (CI) for the association between race and physical functioning limitation adjusted for potential confounders.

Results

In the unadjusted model, the African-American breast cancer survivors were more than twice as likely to have a greater degree of physical functioning limitation compared to their white counterparts (OR 2.31; 95 % CI 1.59, 3.38). After adjustment for covariates, including body mass index (BMI), the race OR was attenuated and no longer statistically significant (OR 1.44; 95 % CI 0.92, 2.27).

Conclusions

Findings from this study showed that African-American breast cancer survivors were more likely to have worse physical functioning limitations than their white counterparts; however, much of this disparity was due to racial differences in other variables such as BMI. Future research should focus on effective interventions targeting modifiable risk factors of physical functioning limitations among breast cancer survivors with the goal of improving quality of life.

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Acknowledgments

Dr. Gallicchio is a recipient of a Health Disparities Career Catalyst Grant from Susan G. Komen for the Cure (KG110356).

Conflict of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors do not have a financial relationship with the organization that sponsored this research. The authors have full control of all primary data and agree to allow the journal to review their data if requested.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Prevention and Research Center, The Weinberg Center for Women’s Health and Medicine, Mercy Medical Center, 227 St. Paul Place, Baltimore, MD, 21202, USA

    Lisa Gallicchio, Carla Calhoun & Kathy J. Helzlsouer

  2. Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Lisa Gallicchio & Kathy J. Helzlsouer

  3. Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Lisa Gallicchio

Authors
  1. Lisa Gallicchio
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  2. Carla Calhoun
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  3. Kathy J. Helzlsouer
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Correspondence to Lisa Gallicchio.

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Gallicchio, L., Calhoun, C. & Helzlsouer, K.J. Association between race and physical functioning limitations among breast cancer survivors. Support Care Cancer 22, 1081–1088 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-013-2066-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-013-2066-2

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