S. Laabidi (Ariana, Tunisia)
Hopital Abderrahmane Mami de PneumophistiologieAuthor Of 1 Presentation
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.