Women who gain weight after being diagnosed with invasive breast cancer (BC) face a higher risk of developing heart failure, according to a study published on January 9 in JAMA Oncology.
Dr. Wonyoung Jung and colleagues from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania conducted the study to explore the connection between weight changes and heart failure risk following a breast cancer diagnosis. The research team analyzed data from the National Health Insurance Service database of South Korea, which included 43,717 women diagnosed with invasive breast cancer, all of whom had no history of heart failure before or within a year of their diagnosis.
The study assessed weight changes using data from screenings conducted before and after the cancer diagnosis. Weight changes were classified based on percentage differences: more than 10% weight loss, 5–10% weight loss, stable weight, 5–10% weight gain, and more than 10% weight gain.
The results showed that 6.1% of patients experienced significant weight loss (over 10%), 15.7% had modest weight loss (5–10%), 63.9% maintained their weight, 10.7% gained 5–10%, and 3.5% gained more than 10%.
After adjusting for factors like cardiovascular risks, cancer treatments, and sociodemographic influences, the study found that a 5–10% weight gain was linked to a 59% increased risk of heart failure (adjusted hazard ratio of 1.59). Women who gained more than 10% were at an even greater risk, with a 85% higher chance of developing heart failure (adjusted hazard ratio of 1.85). No such association was found for weight loss.
The study highlights the critical importance of managing weight in breast cancer patients, especially in the early years following diagnosis, to safeguard their cardiovascular health.
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