I. Ben Abdallah (Tunis, Tunisia)
Author Of 2 Presentations
141P - Cognitive impairment among breast cancer patients receiving endocrine treatment: a comparative study between aromatase inhibitors and tamoxifen
Abstract
Background
Estrogens are modulators of cognition in women. Previous data hypothesized that women receiving aromatase inhibitors (AIs) exhibited worse cognitive functioning since their estrogen levels are lower than patients on tamoxifen (TAM). The aim of our study was to compare cognitive complaints in both groups.
Methods
From September 2020 to January 2021, we conducted a cross-sectional study on breast cancer (BC) patients who have been receiving adjuvant endocrine therapy (ET) for at least 6 months. Cognitive complaints were assessed using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy–Cognitive Function test (FACT-Cog) v.3.
Results
The study included 108 female patients: 60 receiving AIs and 48 receiving TAM. The mean age at diagnosis was 52 yo (44 yo in TAM group versus 58 yo in AIs patients, p< 0.001). The mean duration of ET was 29 months [6-66] and was equivalent between both groups p=0.6). 90% of the sample received chemotherapy before ET with no difference between both groups (p=0.7). Assessment of \"perceived cognitive impairment (PCI)-20 subscale\" did not identify a significant difference between the 2 samples (mean score for AI patients =16 versus 21 for TAM, p=0.198). Severe PCI scores (>=60) were noted in 4% of tam patients versus 1.6% of AIs patients (p=0.58). When exploring the concentration domain patients on tam scored significantly worse than AI patients (p<0.001) while for the verbal domain, memory, multitasking, speed, and functional interference domains, no significant difference between both groups was observed. On the “QoL subscale” (score/16), patients on TAM tended to be more affected in their daily life by their cognitive issues than patients on AIs (mean scores 4/16 versus 2/16, p=0.06). Finally, 10% of patients in each group expressed the need to get regular cognitive support/training during their follow-up visits.
Conclusions
Overall, despite age disparity, patients on AIs did not score worse than patients on TAM on the FACT-Cog test. Besides, patients on TAM exhibited significantly worse scores in the concentration domain. Finally, a subset of patients on ET should be identified to get cognitive rehabilitation therapy to improve their reintegration into social life and workplace.
Legal entity responsible for the study
The authors.
Funding
Has not received any funding.
Disclosure
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.
144P - Cognitive complaints among Tunisian breast cancer patients receiving adjuvant aromatase-inhibitors
Abstract
Background
Aromatase inhibitors (AIs) have been reported to induce cognitive impairment in breast cancer (BC) patients by reducing serum estrogen levels. The aim of our study was to assess our patients’ cognitive complaints during endocrine therapy (ET) with AIs and to identify potential confounding factors.
Methods
From September 2020 to January 2021, we conducted a cross-sectional study on BC patients who have been receiving adjuvant AIs for at least 6 months. Cognitive complaints were assessed using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy–Cognitive Function test (FACT-Cog) v3.
Results
Sixty patients were included in the study (70% receiving letrozole, and 30% anastrozole). They have been on AI for 30 months on average [6-72]. Their mean age at diagnosis was 58 yo [39-81] and 87% of the patients received adjuvant chemotherapy prior to ET. On the “perceived cognitive impairment” (PCI)-20 subscale, patients had a mean score of 16/80 [0-62], and one patient reported severe PCI (>= 60). There was no statistical difference between anastrozole and letrozole on PCI scores (p=1). Patients who received prior chemotherapy tended to have increased complaints (18/80 vs 6/80, p=0.06). Women living alone scored significantly worse than patients living with others (17 vs 3, p<0.001). There was no statistical difference regarding the marital status (p=0.53), smoking (p=0.51), and education (p=0.54). On the” QoL” subscale, the mean score was 2/16, and patients reported that their cognitive issues affected their QoL in 14.5% of cases and their ability to go to work in 16.7%. On the “comment from others” subscale, 6% of the patients have been told by others several times a day about their memory lapses, and 7% were told to have newly developed speaking issues. Finally, women experiencing sleep disorders, anxiety, and fatigue had significantly worse PCI scores (p <0.001, p=0.021, and p<0.001 respectively). In contrast, patients maintaining regular physical activity had significantly better PCI scores (17 vs 21, p=0.001).
Conclusions
Sleep disorders may increase perceived cognitive impairment in patients on AIs, and should therefore be screened and treated. BC survivors should be encouraged to maintain physical activity to improve their cognitive functioning.
Legal entity responsible for the study
The authors.
Funding
Has not received any funding.
Disclosure
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.
Presenter Of 2 Presentations
141P - Cognitive impairment among breast cancer patients receiving endocrine treatment: a comparative study between aromatase inhibitors and tamoxifen
Abstract
Background
Estrogens are modulators of cognition in women. Previous data hypothesized that women receiving aromatase inhibitors (AIs) exhibited worse cognitive functioning since their estrogen levels are lower than patients on tamoxifen (TAM). The aim of our study was to compare cognitive complaints in both groups.
Methods
From September 2020 to January 2021, we conducted a cross-sectional study on breast cancer (BC) patients who have been receiving adjuvant endocrine therapy (ET) for at least 6 months. Cognitive complaints were assessed using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy–Cognitive Function test (FACT-Cog) v.3.
Results
The study included 108 female patients: 60 receiving AIs and 48 receiving TAM. The mean age at diagnosis was 52 yo (44 yo in TAM group versus 58 yo in AIs patients, p< 0.001). The mean duration of ET was 29 months [6-66] and was equivalent between both groups p=0.6). 90% of the sample received chemotherapy before ET with no difference between both groups (p=0.7). Assessment of \"perceived cognitive impairment (PCI)-20 subscale\" did not identify a significant difference between the 2 samples (mean score for AI patients =16 versus 21 for TAM, p=0.198). Severe PCI scores (>=60) were noted in 4% of tam patients versus 1.6% of AIs patients (p=0.58). When exploring the concentration domain patients on tam scored significantly worse than AI patients (p<0.001) while for the verbal domain, memory, multitasking, speed, and functional interference domains, no significant difference between both groups was observed. On the “QoL subscale” (score/16), patients on TAM tended to be more affected in their daily life by their cognitive issues than patients on AIs (mean scores 4/16 versus 2/16, p=0.06). Finally, 10% of patients in each group expressed the need to get regular cognitive support/training during their follow-up visits.
Conclusions
Overall, despite age disparity, patients on AIs did not score worse than patients on TAM on the FACT-Cog test. Besides, patients on TAM exhibited significantly worse scores in the concentration domain. Finally, a subset of patients on ET should be identified to get cognitive rehabilitation therapy to improve their reintegration into social life and workplace.
Legal entity responsible for the study
The authors.
Funding
Has not received any funding.
Disclosure
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.
144P - Cognitive complaints among Tunisian breast cancer patients receiving adjuvant aromatase-inhibitors
Abstract
Background
Aromatase inhibitors (AIs) have been reported to induce cognitive impairment in breast cancer (BC) patients by reducing serum estrogen levels. The aim of our study was to assess our patients’ cognitive complaints during endocrine therapy (ET) with AIs and to identify potential confounding factors.
Methods
From September 2020 to January 2021, we conducted a cross-sectional study on BC patients who have been receiving adjuvant AIs for at least 6 months. Cognitive complaints were assessed using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy–Cognitive Function test (FACT-Cog) v3.
Results
Sixty patients were included in the study (70% receiving letrozole, and 30% anastrozole). They have been on AI for 30 months on average [6-72]. Their mean age at diagnosis was 58 yo [39-81] and 87% of the patients received adjuvant chemotherapy prior to ET. On the “perceived cognitive impairment” (PCI)-20 subscale, patients had a mean score of 16/80 [0-62], and one patient reported severe PCI (>= 60). There was no statistical difference between anastrozole and letrozole on PCI scores (p=1). Patients who received prior chemotherapy tended to have increased complaints (18/80 vs 6/80, p=0.06). Women living alone scored significantly worse than patients living with others (17 vs 3, p<0.001). There was no statistical difference regarding the marital status (p=0.53), smoking (p=0.51), and education (p=0.54). On the” QoL” subscale, the mean score was 2/16, and patients reported that their cognitive issues affected their QoL in 14.5% of cases and their ability to go to work in 16.7%. On the “comment from others” subscale, 6% of the patients have been told by others several times a day about their memory lapses, and 7% were told to have newly developed speaking issues. Finally, women experiencing sleep disorders, anxiety, and fatigue had significantly worse PCI scores (p <0.001, p=0.021, and p<0.001 respectively). In contrast, patients maintaining regular physical activity had significantly better PCI scores (17 vs 21, p=0.001).
Conclusions
Sleep disorders may increase perceived cognitive impairment in patients on AIs, and should therefore be screened and treated. BC survivors should be encouraged to maintain physical activity to improve their cognitive functioning.
Legal entity responsible for the study
The authors.
Funding
Has not received any funding.
Disclosure
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.