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Postoperative complications and survival of elderly breast cancer patients: a FOCUS study analysis

  • Epidemiology
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Abstract

Old age is associated with comorbidity and decreased functioning which influences treatment decisions in elderly breast cancer patients. The purpose of this study was to identify risk factors for complications after breast cancer surgery in elderly patients, and to assess mortality in patients with postoperative complications. The FOCUS cohort is a detailed retrospective cohort of all breast cancer patients aged 65 years and older who were diagnosed between 1997 and 2004 in the South-West of the Netherlands. Risk factors for postoperative complications were assessed using univariable and multivariable logistic regression models. One-year survival and overall survival were calculated using univariable and multivariable Cox Regression models, and relative survival was calculated according to the Ederer II method. 3179 patients received surgery, of whom 19 % (n = 618) developed 1 or more postoperative complication(s). The odds ratio of having postoperative complications increased with age [OR 1.85 (95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.37–2.50, p = 0.001) in patients >85 years] and number of concomitant diseases [OR 1.71 (95 % CI 1.30–2.24, p ≤ 0.001) for 4 or more concomitant diseases]. One-year overall survival, overall survival, and relative survival were worse in patients with postoperative complications [multivariable HR 1.49 (95 % CI 1.05–2.11), p = 0.025. HR 1.21, (95 % CI 1.07–1.36), p = 0.002 and RER 1.19 (95 % CI 1.05–1.34), p = 0.006 respectively]. Stratified for comorbidity, relative survival was lower in patients without comorbidity only. Increasing number of concomitant disease increased the risk of postoperative complications. Although elderly patients with comorbidity did have a higher risk of postoperative complications, relative mortality was not higher in this group. This suggests that postoperative complications in itself did not lead to higher relative mortality, but that the high relative mortality was most likely due to geriatric parameters such as comorbidity or poor physical function.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Dutch Cancer Foundation (KWF 2007-3968). The authors would like to thank the Comprehensive Cancer Centre Netherlands (Leiden region), all participating hospitals and M. Murk-Jansen for data collection.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical standards

Data collection complies with the current laws of the Netherlands.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, Leiden University Medical Center, P.O. Box 9600, Postzone K6-R, 2300 RC, Leiden, The Netherlands

    N. A. de Glas, M. Kiderlen, E. Bastiaannet, W. van de Water, C. J. H. van de Velde & G. J. Liefers

  2. Department of Gerontology & Geriatrics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands

    M. Kiderlen, E. Bastiaannet, A. J. M. de Craen & W. van de Water

Authors
  1. N. A. de Glas
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  2. M. Kiderlen
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  3. E. Bastiaannet
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  4. A. J. M. de Craen
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  5. W. van de Water
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  6. C. J. H. van de Velde
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  7. G. J. Liefers
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to G. J. Liefers.

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de Glas, N.A., Kiderlen, M., Bastiaannet, E. et al. Postoperative complications and survival of elderly breast cancer patients: a FOCUS study analysis. Breast Cancer Res Treat 138, 561–569 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-013-2462-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-013-2462-9

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