ASSOCIATION BETWEEN FUNCTIONAL CAPACITY AND AROMATASE INHIBITORS USAGE TIME IN WOMEN WITH BREAST CANCER – PILOT STUDY

Kamila Pires Carvalho, Mariana T. M. Lima, Fenanda S. Mazzutti, Carlos E. Paiva, Paula P. L. Canto, Yara C. P. Maia Kamila Pires Carvalho, Mariana T. M. Lima, Fenanda S. Mazzutti, Carlos E. Paiva, Paula P. L. Canto, Yara C. P. Maia Kamila Pires Carvalho,

Institution: Federal University of Uberlandia

“Objective: The aim of this study was to associate the functional capacity and aromatase inhibitors (AI) usage time in women with treatment for breast cancer. Methodology: Cross-sectional study with 47 female patients, post-menopausal women diagnosed with breast cancer and hormone therapy indication with aromatase inhibitors seen at the Clinics Hospital Oncology Sector of the Federal University of Uberlandia. After signing the informed consent, these patients responded to the questionnaire of clinical profile and questionnaire Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ). The test was carried out to associate the functional capacity and time usage aromatase inhibitors. For statistical analysis, we used the GraphPad Prism 5.0 software, calculating non-parametric correlation, considering C.I. of 0.95 and p <0.05. Results: Regarding the association between functional capacity and AI usage time, we found a weak negative correlation (Spearman r = -0.27; p = 0.03). Conclusion: The AI usage time and functional capacity had weak negative correlation, suggesting that patients with lower AI usage time showed greater impairment of functional activities. Such results are due probably to the fact that patients with higher AI usage time has returned to the usual routine and managed to adapt their activities to the new functional fitness. In contrast, patients with more recent treatment has been able to recall in more detail the changes/effects of AI usage, and also would have greater comparative perception of their functional capacity before and after the treatment of breast cancer. However, because it is a pilot study and considering the weak correlation, the number of patients is still in the recruitment stage and other variables will be analyzed, since other factors may be associated with functional capacity.Key words: Breast Neoplasms; Functional capacity; Aromatase Inhibitors.”