Risk factors for heightened COVID‐19‐Related anxiety among breast cancer patients
Abstract Background The COVID‐19 pandemic has disrupted medical care, increased isolation, and exacerbated anxiety in breast cancer patients. Since March 2020, Breastcancer.org experienced a sustained surge in requested pandemic‐related information and support. To characterize the pandemic‐related e...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2023-02-01
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| Series: | Cancer Medicine |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/cam4.5184 |
| _version_ | 1797903079619690496 |
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| author | Yash B. Shah Stephanie Kjelstrom Diana Martinez Adam Leitenberger Donna‐Marie Manasseh Melissa Bollmann‐Jenkins Ann Partridge Virginia Kaklamani Rowen Chlebowski Sharon Larson Marisa Weiss |
| author_facet | Yash B. Shah Stephanie Kjelstrom Diana Martinez Adam Leitenberger Donna‐Marie Manasseh Melissa Bollmann‐Jenkins Ann Partridge Virginia Kaklamani Rowen Chlebowski Sharon Larson Marisa Weiss |
| author_sort | Yash B. Shah |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The COVID‐19 pandemic has disrupted medical care, increased isolation, and exacerbated anxiety in breast cancer patients. Since March 2020, Breastcancer.org experienced a sustained surge in requested pandemic‐related information and support. To characterize the pandemic‐related experiences of breast cancer patients, we surveyed the Breastcancer.org Community early in the COVID‐19 era. Methods Breastcancer.org Community members were invited to complete an online questionnaire regarding their experience during the pandemic. Self‐reported data on demographics, comorbidities, care disruptions, anxiety, coping ability, telemedicine use, and satisfaction with care were collected. Results were analyzed using Stata 16.0 (Stata Corp., Inc). Results Included were 568 current and previous breast cancer patients, primarily with U.S. residence. Overall, 43.8% reported at least one comorbidity associated with severe COVID‐19 illness and 61.9% experienced care delays. Moderate to extreme anxiety about contracting COVID‐19 was reported by 36.5%, increasing with number of comorbidities (33.0% vs. 55.4%, p = 0.021), current breast cancer diagnosis (30.4% vs. 42.5%, p = 0.011), and poorer coping ability (15.5% vs. 53.9%, p < 0.0001). Moderate to extreme anxiety about cancer care disruptions was reported by 29.1%, increasing with current breast cancer diagnosis (19.1% vs. 38.9%, p < 0.0001), actual delayed care (18.9% vs. 35.3%, p < 0.0001), and poorer coping ability (13.1% vs. 57.7%, p < 0.0001). Most utilized telehealth and found it helpful, but also expressed increased anxiety and subjectively expressed that these were less preferable. Conclusion Early in the COVID‐19 pandemic, anxiety was reported by a large proportion of breast cancer patients, with increased prevalence in those with risk factors. Attention to mental health is critical, as emotional distress not only harms quality of life but may also compromise outcomes. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T09:27:19Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1f8ae1280084487fba9f26b77c5363f1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-7634 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T09:27:19Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cancer Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-1f8ae1280084487fba9f26b77c5363f12023-02-19T18:54:08ZengWileyCancer Medicine2045-76342023-02-011233577358810.1002/cam4.5184Risk factors for heightened COVID‐19‐Related anxiety among breast cancer patientsYash B. Shah0Stephanie Kjelstrom1Diana Martinez2Adam Leitenberger3Donna‐Marie Manasseh4Melissa Bollmann‐Jenkins5Ann Partridge6Virginia Kaklamani7Rowen Chlebowski8Sharon Larson9Marisa Weiss10Sidney Kimmel Medical College Thomas Jefferson University Philadelphia Pennsylvania USAMain Line Health Center for Population Health Research Lankenau Institute for Medical Research Wynnewood Pennsylvania USADepartment of Psychiatry Columbia University Irving Medical Center New York New York USABreastcancer.org Ardmore Pennsylvania USADepartment of Surgery Maimonides Medical Center Brooklyn New York USABreastcancer.org Ardmore Pennsylvania USADepartment of Medical Oncology Dana‐Farber Cancer Institute Boston Massachusetts USADivision of Hematology/Oncology UT Health San Antonio San Antonio Texas USAThe Lundquist Institute, Harbor‐UCLA Medical Center Torrance California USAMain Line Health Center for Population Health Research Lankenau Institute for Medical Research Wynnewood Pennsylvania USABreastcancer.org Ardmore Pennsylvania USAAbstract Background The COVID‐19 pandemic has disrupted medical care, increased isolation, and exacerbated anxiety in breast cancer patients. Since March 2020, Breastcancer.org experienced a sustained surge in requested pandemic‐related information and support. To characterize the pandemic‐related experiences of breast cancer patients, we surveyed the Breastcancer.org Community early in the COVID‐19 era. Methods Breastcancer.org Community members were invited to complete an online questionnaire regarding their experience during the pandemic. Self‐reported data on demographics, comorbidities, care disruptions, anxiety, coping ability, telemedicine use, and satisfaction with care were collected. Results were analyzed using Stata 16.0 (Stata Corp., Inc). Results Included were 568 current and previous breast cancer patients, primarily with U.S. residence. Overall, 43.8% reported at least one comorbidity associated with severe COVID‐19 illness and 61.9% experienced care delays. Moderate to extreme anxiety about contracting COVID‐19 was reported by 36.5%, increasing with number of comorbidities (33.0% vs. 55.4%, p = 0.021), current breast cancer diagnosis (30.4% vs. 42.5%, p = 0.011), and poorer coping ability (15.5% vs. 53.9%, p < 0.0001). Moderate to extreme anxiety about cancer care disruptions was reported by 29.1%, increasing with current breast cancer diagnosis (19.1% vs. 38.9%, p < 0.0001), actual delayed care (18.9% vs. 35.3%, p < 0.0001), and poorer coping ability (13.1% vs. 57.7%, p < 0.0001). Most utilized telehealth and found it helpful, but also expressed increased anxiety and subjectively expressed that these were less preferable. Conclusion Early in the COVID‐19 pandemic, anxiety was reported by a large proportion of breast cancer patients, with increased prevalence in those with risk factors. Attention to mental health is critical, as emotional distress not only harms quality of life but may also compromise outcomes.https://doi.org/10.1002/cam4.5184anxietybreast cancerCOVID‐19mental healthpatient‐reported experiencesscreening |
| spellingShingle | Yash B. Shah Stephanie Kjelstrom Diana Martinez Adam Leitenberger Donna‐Marie Manasseh Melissa Bollmann‐Jenkins Ann Partridge Virginia Kaklamani Rowen Chlebowski Sharon Larson Marisa Weiss Risk factors for heightened COVID‐19‐Related anxiety among breast cancer patients Cancer Medicine anxiety breast cancer COVID‐19 mental health patient‐reported experiences screening |
| title | Risk factors for heightened COVID‐19‐Related anxiety among breast cancer patients |
| title_full | Risk factors for heightened COVID‐19‐Related anxiety among breast cancer patients |
| title_fullStr | Risk factors for heightened COVID‐19‐Related anxiety among breast cancer patients |
| title_full_unstemmed | Risk factors for heightened COVID‐19‐Related anxiety among breast cancer patients |
| title_short | Risk factors for heightened COVID‐19‐Related anxiety among breast cancer patients |
| title_sort | risk factors for heightened covid 19 related anxiety among breast cancer patients |
| topic | anxiety breast cancer COVID‐19 mental health patient‐reported experiences screening |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/cam4.5184 |
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