Longitudinal Risk Management for Patients with Increased Risk for Breast Cancer

Introduction: This study aims to characterize longitudinal care management and evaluate the relationship between various patient factors and the likelihood of choosing risk reducing behaviors in women with increased risk of developing breast cancer. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted to evaluate all adult female patients who had at least one clinic visit with a surgical provider for discussion of breast cancer risk assessment between January, 2017 to July, 2020 at an academic center. Patients with prior history of breast cancer were excluded. Patient details and strategies pursued at clinic visits were recorded. A time-to-event analysis was performed, and hazard ratios were determined to characterize associations between patient characteristics and time to pursuing risk-reducing care management. Results: There were 283 participants with at least one follow-up visit and 48 (17.0%) ultimately changed their initial strategy to either chemoprevention or prophylactic mastectomy. Patients with gene mutations were 6 times more likely to engage in risk-reducing management compared to those without (hazard ratio (HR) 5.99, P < 0.001). Those with histories of high-risk proliferative changes (HR 7.62, P < 0.001) and hysterectomy (HR 2.99, P = 0.019) were also more likely to engage in risk-reducing management. Age, race, and increased predicted risk of developing breast cancer (estimated by various calculators) were not associated with increased likelihood of engaging in risk-reducing strategies. Conclusion: Known gene mutations, history of high-risk proliferative changes, and prior hysterectomy were factors associated with women who were more likely to engage in risk reducing strategies. These findings, when paired with patient reported outcome measures, may help guide shared decision-making. (c) 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This study found that women with gene mutations, history of high-risk proliferative changes, and prior hysterectomy were more likely to choose risk reducing strategies, while age, race, and increased predicted risk of developing breast cancer were not associated with this likelihood.