Changes in body composition and subsequent cardiovascular disease risk among 5-year breast cancer survivors

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains a leading cause of death in breast cancer survivors, a growing population. The aim of this study was to determine whether changes in body composition, commonly observed in breast cancer survivors, is associated with subsequent CVD risk.

This cohort study used the Korean National Health Insurance Service database. The study population included 73,271 5-year breast cancer survivors aged 40 years or above. To assess changes in body composition and its effect on the risk of CVD, validated prediction equations and multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression were used. Changes in metabolic markers (blood pressure, total cholesterol, and fasting serum glucose) according to changes in body composition were calculated by multiple linear regression.

Having persistently high predicted lean body and appendicular skeletal muscle mass percentages (LBMP and ASMP, respectively) among breast cancer survivors was associated with 32% and 40% lower CVD risks than a persistently low predicted LBMP or ASMP, respectively. Conversely, persistently high predicted body fat mass percentage (BFMP) was associated with a higher CVD risk than persistently low predicted BFMP. Additionally, those with a low to high change in predicted BFMP had a higher risk of CVD than those with persistently low predicted BFMP. Changes in body composition were accompanied by changes in metabolic markers.

Maintaining high percentages of lean body and appendicular skeletal muscle mass and preventing an increase in fat mass may be beneficial in preventing CVD in breast cancer survivors.