Publication: The correlation of body composition, bone health status, physiological function and physical activity level with quality of life and cancer-related fatigue among breast cancer survivors in selected locations in Malaysia
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Date
2025-05
Authors
Rahman, Aiman Nadia Akmar
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Abstract
The main aim of the study was to determine relationships between body composition, bone health status, physiological functions and physical activity level with cancer-related fatigue and quality of life among breast cancer survivors in Malaysia. Eighty-three female breast cancer survivors with mean age 52.8 (8.7) years old participated in this study. The participants performed assessment of body composition, bone speed of sound (SOS), and physiological functions consisted of handgrip strength, shoulder and lower body flexibility and pulmonary function. The participants answered short form International Physical Activity Questionnaire (SF IPAQ) to identify physical activity level, FACT-B questionnaire for determining quality of life (QoL) and Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI) scale questionnaire for assessing cancer-related fatigue (CRF). The present study found that, there was no significant correlation between percentage of body fat, and fat free mass with cancer-related fatigue and quality of life respectively. A significant negative correlation was observed between handgrip strength and total CRF score (r=-0.240, p=0.032), and a significant positive correlation was found between time spent for moderate to vigorous physical activity (Mins/week MVPA) and functional wellbeing, a component of QoL (r=0.217, p=0.049). A significant negative correlation between days spent for moderate physical activity (Days/week MPA) and severity of fatigue, a component of CRF (r=-0.234, p=0.033) was observed. A negative correlation between total CRF score and total QoL score (r=-0.298, p=0.01) was also observed. Bone SOS of right arm was shown to be positively correlated with bone SOS of left arm (r=0.423, p=0.031) and right tibia (r=0.264, p=0.031), lower body flexibility (r=0.286, p=0.017) and peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) (r=0.245, p=0.045). Stepwise regression analysis shows that the variables of physical well-being score, emotional score, functional score, social score, additional concern score and time spent for moderate physical activity (Mins/week MPA) reveal to be significant predictors of total QoL score. The single best predictor of total QoL score is physical well-being score. Besides, it was found that the variables of fatigue severity, physical well-being score, and emotional score are the significant predictors of total CRF score. The single best predictor of total CRF score is fatigue severity score. The present study findings could provide new information for management of cancer rehabilitation to improve quality of life of the breast cancer survivors.