Prevalence, Outcome, and Management of Risk Factors in Patients With Breast Cancer With Peripheral Arterial Disease: A Tertiary Cancer Center's Experience

Clin Breast Cancer. 2021 Aug;21(4):337-343. doi: 10.1016/j.clbc.2020.12.010. Epub 2020 Dec 30.

Abstract

Introduction: The risk factors of breast cancer overlap with those of peripheral arterial disease (PAD), with increasing prevalence. In addition, there is under-utilization of risk factor modification measures in patients with PAD.

Materials and methods: Electronic medical records of patients with breast cancer with International Classification of Diseases 9/10 codes for PAD spanning 10 years from June 1, 2009 to June 1, 2019 were reviewed.

Results: A total of 248 patients, 98% women, with a median age of 75 years and with a median follow-up of 76 months, were included. PAD risk factors were identified as smoking (44%), obesity (38%), hyperlipidemia (68%), hypertension (HTN) (74%), and diabetes (42%). Overall, survival was significantly impacted by smoking (P = .0301) and HTN (P = .0052). In a Cox proportion hazard ratio regression, HTN (overall death hazard ratio [HR], 3.1784; 95% CI, 1.0291-6.7490; P = .0070; cancer-related death HR, 2.6354; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.0291-6.7490; P = .0434) and smoking (overall death HR, 1.7452; 95% CI 1.0707-2.8444; P = .0255; cancer-related death HR, 2.7432; 95% CI, 1.4190-5.3030; P = .0027) were predictors of overall death and cancer-related death. Of all patients, 48% were on statins and 54% were on antiplatelet therapies. Of the patients, 62% of current smokers were offered a smoking cessation program, 27% of obese patients were offered a nutrition consult, 42% of patients with diabetes had blood glucose controlled, and 54% of patients with HTN had blood pressure controlled.

Conclusion: Smoking and HTN are risk factors associated with decreased survival and predictive of overall death and cancer-related death. In this population, risk factor modification was under-utilized.

Keywords: Breast Cancer; Peripheral Arterial Disease; Risk factor modification; Risk factors; Smoking.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Breast Neoplasms / complications*
  • Breast Neoplasms / mortality*
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hypertension / complications
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Peripheral Arterial Disease / diagnosis
  • Peripheral Arterial Disease / epidemiology*
  • Prevalence
  • Proportional Hazards Models
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • Smoking
  • Survival Rate
  • Tertiary Healthcare