Health Behaviors and Cancer Diagnosis Among Individuals with Pathogenic Variants Associated with Hereditary Breast...

Background/Objectives: Individuals carrying pathogenic/likely pathogenic (P/LP) variants associated with hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC) and Lynch Syndrome (LS)- have increased risk for various types of cancer. The study compared health behaviors, i.e., smoking, alcohol consumption, level of physical activity, and body mass index (BMI) among affected and unaffected (never diagnosed) individuals with P/LP variants associated with HBOC or LS. Methods: We used baseline and 18-month follow-up data from individuals with HBOC- or LS-associated P/LP variants from the Swiss CASCADE study, an open-ended, prospective, family-based cohort. Generalized linear models with random effects were applied. Results: A total of 856 records from 518 participants (HBOC: 410; LS: 108) were analyzed. More than half (58%) of participants had at least one cancer diagnosis. After controlling for potential confounders, the proportion of current smokers was not significantly different between the two groups (ß = 3.5, p = 0.24). Alcohol intake was not associated with cancer diagnosis (adjusted: ß = -0.2, p = 0.57), although it was positively associated with time since genetic testing (ß = 0.11, p < 0.01). Levels of physical activity were lower among affected individuals compared to unaffected (adjusted: ß = -0.5, p = 0.03). There was no difference in BMI between the two groups. Conclusions: No significant differences in health behaviors, i.e., smoking, alcohol consumption, or BMI, were detected in individuals with P/LP variants associated with HBOC or LS unaffected by cancer and those with cancer diagnosis. Lower levels of physical activity in those with a cancer diagnosis could potentially be attributed to cancer treatment. Future studies should examine whether adjustments in health behavior are associated with the genetic diagnosis.