Association of muscle strength and physical performance with the health-related quality of life of women with breast cancer

Abstract Purpose To investigate the association of sarcopenia components with health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and its domains in women with breast cancer. Methods Cross-sectional study on women (30 to 80 years old) with breast cancer, with diagnosis time ≤ 12 months, without metastasis, who had not been treated for another malignancy, and without recurrences. Muscle strength, muscle mass, and physical performance were investigated by handgrip strength (HGS), appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (ASMMI), and Timed Up-and-Go test (TUGT), respectively. HRQoL and its domains were assessed using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality-of-Life Questionnaire Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) and Breast Cancer-specific Core 23 (EORTC QLQ-BR23) instruments. Multiple linear regression models were conducted to verify the association between exposure and outcome variables. The significance level adopted was 5%. Results The final sample consisted of 114 women with a mean age of 55.2 ± 11.3 years. Of these, 65.8% declared themselves to be black or brown, 43.9% and 73.7% did not consume alcohol or smoke, respectively, and 70.2% were insufficiently active. For the EORTC QLQ-C30, HGS was associated with cognitive function (p = 0.047) and appetite loss (p = 0.012), while TUGT was associated with overall health (p = 0.005) and functional scale (p = 0.002). HGS and TUGT were associated with the breast cancer-specific symptoms scale (p = 0.017 and p = 0.008, respectively) of the EORTC QLQ-BR23. Conclusion Muscle strength and physical performance are associated with HRQoL domains in women with breast cancer.