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An investigation into socio-demographic-, health-, and cancer-related factors associated with cortisol and C-reactive protein levels in breast cancer survivors: a longitudinal study

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Abstract

Background

Breast cancer survivors (BCS) may exhibit dysregulated patterns of cortisol and C-reactive protein (CRP). The aims of this study were to describe BCS’ cortisol and CRP levels over a 1-year period after treatment, and assess how levels relate to socio-demographic- (age, education level, marital status), health- (body mass index [BMI] category, menopausal status), and cancer-related factors (cancer stage, chemotherapy exposure, time since diagnosis).

Methods

Participants (N = 201) provided data at 3 months post-treatment (T1) and again 3, 6, 9, and 12 months later (T2–T5). At T1, participants completed self-report questionnaires and had their weight and height measured by a trained technician. At T1–T5, they provided five saliva samples at awakening, 30 min after awakening, 2:00 pm, 4:00 pm, and before bedtime on two nonconsecutive days to measure diurnal cortisol, and provided capillary whole blood to measure CRP. Data were analyzed using repeated-measure analyses of variance (ANOVAs) and mixed-design ANOVAs.

Results

Diurnal cortisol and CRP levels fluctuated over time. In univariate models, older age and post-menopausal status were associated with higher cortisol and CRP levels, higher cancer stage and chemotherapy were associated with lower cortisol levels, and higher BMI category was associated with higher CRP levels. In adjusted models, age was no longer associated with CRP levels and shorter time since diagnosis was significantly associated with higher CRP levels.

Conclusions

Socio-demographic-, health-, and cancer-related factors may help identify BCS at risk of physiological dysregulation who need intervention. Identifying modifiable factors associated with cortisol and CRP will inform cancer care interventions.

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Acknowledgements

We gratefully acknowledge the women who participated in this study, without whom our research could not be conducted.

Funding

This research was supported by a Canadian Institutes of Health Research grant (Grant no. 123358). CMS is supported by the Canada Research Chairs program.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

    M. Lambert

  2. Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada

    C. M. Sabiston

  3. Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montreal, Canada

    C. Wrosch

  4. School of Human Kinetics, University of Ottawa, Montpetit Hall, Room 339, Ottawa, ON, K1N 6N5, Canada

    J. Brunet

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  1. M. Lambert
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Correspondence to J. Brunet.

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Lambert, M., Sabiston, C.M., Wrosch, C. et al. An investigation into socio-demographic-, health-, and cancer-related factors associated with cortisol and C-reactive protein levels in breast cancer survivors: a longitudinal study. Breast Cancer 27, 1096–1106 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12282-020-01113-z

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