Comparison of Quality of Life in Breast Cancer Survivors with and without Persistent Depressive Symptoms: A 12-Month Follow-Up Study.

Although breast cancer treatments reduce mortality, their adverse effects can increase depression which impacts one's quality of life (QoL). Physical activity (PA) seems to improve the QoL of breast cancer survivors (BCS). However, an unanswered question is the influence of PA on the QoL in BCS with depressive symptoms. Thus, we analyzed the influence of PA on the QoL in BCS with persistent depressive symptoms during 12 months of follow-up. The sample included 70 female BCS. Depression and QoL domains (i.e., functional capacity, physical limitations, body pain, general health status, vitality, social and emotional aspects, and mental health) were assessed at baseline and follow-up periods by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and SF-36, respectively. Habitual PA was assessed by Baecke's questionnaire. Our results indicate a prevalence of 17.1% of depressive symptoms. Non-depressives BCS improved their physical limitations and general health status domains over time, but there were no observed differences in depressive BCS. BCS with persistent depressive symptoms (baseline and follow-up) showed worse QoL scores than non-depressives in all domains, regardless of confounding factors. When adjusted for PA, the difference between BCS depressives and non-depressives lost its significance in the functional capacity domain. In conclusion, habitual PA practice positively influenced the functional capacity domain of the QoL in BCS.

Association Between Different Domains of Physical Activity and Body Adiposity Indicators in Breast Cancer Survivors.

BACKGROUND: To analyze the relationship between different physical activity (PA) domains and adiposity indicators in breast cancer survivors. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study, composed of 115 breast cancer (BC) survivors. Measurements of weight, height, waist circumference (WC), and hip circumference were objectively collected, as well as the analysis of body fat percentage through bioelectrical impedance analysis. The PA level was assessed by the Baecke questionnaire including domains related to occupational activity, leisure-time activity, and transportation, while the time spent in sedentary behavior was assessed through self-reported screen-time. Socioeconomic status was assessed through the Brazilian criteria for economic classification and considered as a covariate. RESULTS: BC survivors with higher PA levels in leisure-time activity/sport presented reductions in body fat percentage (ß = 1.13%; CI = -2.06; -0.21), BMI (ß = 0.80 kg/m²; CI = -1.50; -0.11), WC (ß = 1.89 cm; CI = -3.54; -0.23), and waist-to-height ratio (ß = 0.13 cm; CI = -0.23; -0.02). Similar values were observed in PA during transportation and in total. There was no correlation between PA at work and adiposity indicators. CONCLUSION: Different PA domains were inversely related to body adiposity in BC survivors.

Relationship of anxiety and depression symptoms with the different domains of physical activity in breast cancer survivors.

Background Physical activity (PA) has shown benefits in the mental health of breast cancer (BC) survivors. However, it is unclear if different domains of PA are related to the emotional well-being of this population. The objective of this study was to verify the relationship between different domains of PA [occupational, exercise/sport participation and leisure time/commuting] with symptoms of anxiety and depression in BC survivors. Methods It is a cross-sectional study, composed of 128 women breast cancer survivor, in which the socioeconomic class was evaluated through the questionnaire of the Brazilian Association of Research Companies (ABEP), PA level was evaluated through the Baecke questionnaire, and, symptoms of anxiety and depression were evaluated through the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Results It was verified that occupational PA related to anxiety (B = 1.44 [95% CI: 0.11; 2.76]) and leisure time/commuting PA was negatively related to depression (B=-0.99 [95% CI: -1.64;-0.34]), even after adjustment of analysis by age, marital status, and socioeconomic status. There was no correlation between exercise/sport participation with scores of anxiety and depression in BC survivors. Physical activity at leisure time/commuting was negatively related with depression in BC survivors with mastectomy (B=-1.20 [95% CI:-1.92; -0.47). Limitations The difficulty of recruiting the studied population and the absence of subsidy for participation in the study are factors to be considerate. Conclusions Occupational PA may not to be indicated in the management of emotional disorders in BC survivors; however, leisure time/commuting may be recommended to contribute to the mental well-being of this population.

The relationship between post-operative time and cardiac autonomic modulation in breast cancer survivors.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Breast cancer survivors present autonomic dysfunction when evaluated by their heart rate variability (HRV). The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between post-operative time and cardiac autonomic modulation in breast cancer survivors and compare these values to those of women without cancer. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study consisting of 45 women from 35 to 70years old. These women were divided into two after breast cancer groups (BCG1 and BCG2) and a control group (CG). Group BCG1 consisted of women who had undergone breast cancer surgery within the last 18months and BCG2 those whose postoperative periods were more than 18months. The control group was formed by cancer-free women. HRV indices were used in the time and the frequency domain and geometric indexes. RESULTS: The indices in millisecond, RMSSD (BCG1=19.83; BCG2=14.99; CG=31.46), SD1 (BCG1=14.03; BCG2=10.61; CG=22.27), SD2 (BCG1=39.17; BCG2=35.28; CG=61.16), SDNN (BCG1=29.58; BCG2=26.12; CG=46.36) and HF in milliseconds squared (BCG1=194.2; BCG2=91.07; CG=449.4) showed statistically significant reductions in the breast cancer groups compared to the CG (p≤0.0001). Lower SD1 index values were observed when comparing BCG2 to BCG1. CONCLUSIONS: Breast cancer survivors regardless of their postoperative period exhibited a decrease in overall variability and both sympathetic and parasympathetic activity when compared to women without the disease. The group with the longer postoperative period manifested more pronounced autonomic modulation changes.

Efeito da caminhada em esteira na acuidade proprioceptiva do tornozelo em mulheres jovens saudáveis: ensaio clínico randomizado / Effect of treadmill walking on ankle proprioceptive acuity in healthy young women: a randomized clinical trial

OBJETIVOS: Avaliar o efeito da caminhada em esteira na acuidade proprioceptiva do tornozelo de mulheres jovens saudáveis. MÉTODOS: Para este ensaio clínico randomizado foram selecionadas 20 mulheres entre 18 e 30 anos com um nível baixo de atividade física segundo a classificação IPAQ (Questionário Internacional de Nível de Atividade Física). As participantes foram divididas em dois grupos de 10 componentes, o Grupo Exercício, que realizou 10 sessões de caminhada em esteira, e o Grupo Controle, que não foi submetido a nenhuma intervenção. A acuidade proprioceptiva do tornozelo foi avaliada pré e pós-intervenção por meio do Star Excursion Balance Test. Após ser confirmada a normalidade dos dados, foi utilizada a análise de variância com delineamento misto para comparação entre os grupos e entre as avaliações pré e pós-intervenção. RESULTADOS: Não foram encontradas diferenças significativas na execução do Star Excursion Balance Test comparando as avaliações pré e pós-intervanção em ambos os grupos. Também não foram encontradas diferenças entre os dois grupos comparando as variações percentuais entre as duas avaliações. CONCLUSÕES: Nas condições testadas, um programa de 10 sessões de caminhada em esteira não foi capaz de promover adaptações na acuidade proprioceptiva do tornozelo em mulheres jovens saudáveis.

AIMS: To evaluate the effect of treadmill walking on ankle proprioceptive acuity in healthy young women. METHODS: This randomized clinical trial included 20 women aged 18 to 30 years with a low level of physical activity according to the International Physical Activity Questionnaire classification. The participants were assigned to two groups with 10 components: the exercise group, which performed 10 treadmill walking sessions, and the control group, which was not submitted to any kind of intervention. Ankle proprioceptive acuity was assessed before and after the Star Excursion Balance Test. After confirming the normality of data, a mixed analysis of variance was used to compare the groups and the assessments before and after the intervention. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the Star Excursion Balance Test between groups either before or after the intervention. In addition, intergroup differences were not found when percentage variations were compared in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Under the tested conditions, 10 treadmill walking sessions were not able to produce proprioceptive adaptations in healthy young women.