Diet Quality in Patients with Breast Cancer: Results of a Single Cohort Study in a Midwestern US Population

Abstract

Emerging research underscores the relationship between diet quality in patients with breast cancer and their cardiovascular health. This study examines the role of diet quality in patients post-breast cancer diagnosis in a single cohort in the midwestern United States (US), along with barriers to the adoption of a healthy diet and willingness to change diet. This cross-sectional study surveyed 108 patients with breast cancer. Diet quality was assessed using the Rapid Assessment of Eating in Participants - Shortened version (REAP-S). Participants had an average total REAP-S Score of 28.44 on a scale of 13–39. This score is lower than that of the average omnivorous population of the US and remained so as time since diagnosis progressed despite participants’ overwhelming willingness to make changes toward a better quality diet. Several key barriers to healthier eating were identified, including unpredictable schedules and time constraints. Subaverage diet quality scores suggest that breast cancer patients elevate their future risk of adverse cardiovascular health and underscores the necessity for targeting interventions and reducing barriers to enhance diet quality.