The relationship between anxiety and vaginal-related sexual health in postmenopausal breast cancer survivors on aromatase inhibitors therapies: A cross sectional study Journal Article

   

Authors:	Bryl, K.; Chimonas, S.; Li, X.; Li, S. Q.; Mao, J. J.
Article Title:	The relationship between anxiety and vaginal-related sexual health in postmenopausal breast cancer survivors on aromatase inhibitors therapies: A cross sectional study
Abstract:	Purpose: Sexual health problems and anxiety are disruptive symptoms in breast cancer survivors; however, little is known about these symptoms in postmenopausal breast cancer survivors on aromatase inhibitors therapies. This study aimed to determine the relationship between anxiety and vaginal-related sexual health problems in this population. Methods: We analyzed cross-sectional data from a cohort study of postmenopausal women breast cancer survivors receiving aromatase inhibitors. Vaginal-related sexual health problems were assessed with the Breast Cancer Prevention Trial Symptom Checklist. Anxiety was assessed with the anxiety subscale of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. We used multivariable logistic regression to evaluate relationship between anxiety and vaginal-related sexual health adjusted for clinical and sociodemographic variables. Results: Among 974 patients, 305 (31.3%) reported anxiety and 403 (41.4%) had vaginal-related sexual health problems. Compared to those without anxiety, patients with borderline and clinically abnormal anxiety reported higher rates of vaginal-related sexual health problems (36.8% vs. 49% and 55.7% respectively, p < 0.001). In multivariate analyses adjusted for clinical and sociodemographic factors, abnormal anxiety was associated with a higher rate of vaginal-related sexual health problems, with adjusted odds ratios of 1.69 (95% CI 1.06–2.70, p = 0.03). Vaginal-related sexual health problems were more frequent among patients who were under 65 years of age, received Taxane-based chemotherapy, reported depression, and were married/living with a partner (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Among postmenopausal breast cancer survivors on aromatase inhibitors therapies, anxiety was significantly associated with vaginal-related sexual health problems. As treatments for sexual health problems are limited, results suggest that psychosocial interventions for anxiety could potentially be adapted to simultaneously address sexual health needs. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.
Keywords:	breast cancer; anxiety; aromatase inhibitors; postmenopausal; sexual health; breast cancer survivors; vaginal-related sexual health problems
Journal Title:	Breast Cancer Research and Treatment
Volume:	200
Issue:	2
ISSN:	0167-6806
Publisher:	Springer
Date Published:	2023-07-01
Start Page:	257
End Page:	264
Language:	English
DOI:	10.1007/s10549-023-06981-5
PUBMED:	37226019
PROVIDER:	scopus
PMCID:	PMC11234516
DOI/URL:	https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85160260524&doi=10.1007%2fs10549-023-06981-5&partnerID=40&md5=2e363f1b573859505c87637c6d9f6bea
Notes:	The MSK Cancer Center Support Grant (P30 CA008748) is acknowledged in PubMed and PDF -- Corresponding author is MSK author: Jun J. Mao -- Source: Scopus

https://synapse.mskcc.org/synapse/works/has_related_data_chk/207069