A study of lifestyle factors associated with breast cancer patients in Iran

Abstract

Background: Several environmental and lifestyle factors have a significant role in the incidence of various types of cancer. Lifestyle factors are important elements in the development of cancer, and correction of them can lead to prevention. Given that the underlying cause of cancer is unclear, comparing the lifestyle of two groups of women can explain some of the breast cancer risk factors.

Objective: The present study was conducted to compare the lifestyle dimensions in women with and without breast cancer.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out to compare two groups of 546 women (273 healthy individuals and 273 cancer patients). The lifestyle sub-scales were collected using a lifestyle questionnaire (LSQ). The differences between the scores of the eight sub-scales in the two groups were analyzed using independent t-test and Mann-Whitney test.

Results: The mean age of the participants in both groups of this study was 44.51 ± 11.28. Although the lifestyle scores of the healthy individuals were higher than the patient group, in terms of all eight dimensions of lifestyle, a significant difference was found between the two groups in terms of four dimensions (P<0.05). Also, there was a positive and significant correlation between the socioeconomic status and the lifestyle of women with breast cancer (P=0.49).

Conclusions: Regarding the difference between the lifestyle score of the two groups, it seems to be necessary for authorities and healthcare providers to plan for educational programs of lifestyle practices, and healthy behaviors. Besides, conducting longitudinal studies are recommended to find the causal relationship between the two variables. Ethiop .J. Health Dev. 2019; 33(3):160-166]

Key words: Lifestyle, breast cancer, patient