The Relationships between Frailty and Quality of Life in Elderly Women with Breast Cancer

Background: It is well known that oncologic management of elderly patients is complicated, and physicians should well define the ultimate goals when choosing treatment modalities. Cancer treatment should not necessarily focus on survival but aim for a good quality of life for the patient in light of their frailty. Patients and Methods: This is a retrospective cross-sectional survey study. One hundred fifty-eight women with breast cancer participated in this study. The PRISMA-7 Frailty Index and WHOQOL-OLD Module assessed participants’ frailty and quality of life. SPSS 26.0 and Medcalc 14 [Acacialaan 22, B-8400 Ostend, Belgium] programs were used for statistical analyses. Statistically significant associations between the PRISMA-7 scale and the WHOQOL-OLD Module were assessed. Results: Of the158 participants, the median age [min-max] was 71 [65-96] years, and 61.2% had stage I and II breast cancer. Lumpectomy was 61.1%, and 75% received chemotherapy-radiotherapy and hormone therapy. For the WHOQOL-OLD domains; financial status [p=0.001] with the sensory ability domain, work status [p<0.001] and education status[p=0.004] with the autonomy domain, education status [p=0.002] with PPF activity domain, education status [p=0.001] and work status [p=0.007] with the social participation domain, treatment modality [p=0.003] with death &dying domain, number of comorbidities [p=0.004] with intimacy domain statistically significant. The total score was associated with education status [p=0.005] and the number of comorbidities [p=0.010]. Frailty correlated positively with age [cut-off age 68 years; p<0.001]. Education status was inversely associated with increased frailty [p=0.003]. The relationship between the PRISMA-7 scale and the WHOQOL-OLD Module correlated negatively in five out of six dimensions except for the Intimacy domain. Conclusions: It is necessary to design customized cancer management programs to improve specific components of elderly women with breast cancer with increased frailty by revealing the associations in domains of QoL.