Inability to live independently in the course of breast cancer: Main risk factors

Abstract

Introduction A number of articles focus on functioning in breast cancer. However, there are no papers on factors which result in the inability to live independently in the course of the disease. Objectives This study assesses risk factors regarding the inability to live independently among individuals with breast cancer. Patient s and methods This study included 130 patients who displayed interest in obtaining a certificate of inability to live independently. Result s Over the study period, 52% of patients did not obtain the certificate of inability to live independently (group A) and 48% did so (group B). There was only a single man in the whole cohort. Metastases were revealed in 13.4% of patients from group A and in 74.2% from group B. Patients from group A had a significantly higher score in the Barthel Index for Activities of Daily Living compared with those from group B (P <0.001). In group A, only 10.6% of patients had no surgery, while in group B, 41.7%. In group B, only 16.7% of patients had breast-conserving surgery, while in group A, 51.5%. Conclusions Information on the presence of metastases and on the type of surgery is useful in assessing the risk of being unable to live independently in patients with breast cancer. The Barthel Index for Activities of Daily Living is helpful in assessing the inability to live independently.