Zaixing Shi

Multiple Chronic Conditions and Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Among US Adults: Results From the 2012 National Health Interview Survey

Introduction More than 25% of American adults report having 2 or more chronic conditions. People with chronic conditions often use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) for self-care and disease management, despite a limited evidence base. Methods Data from the 2012 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) (n = 33,557) were analyzed to assess associations between presence of multiple chronic conditions (n = 13) and CAM use, using multivariable relative risk and linear regressions weighted for complex NHIS sampling. CAM use was defined as self-reported use of one or more of 16 therapies in the previous 12 months. Results Chronic conditions were common. US adults reported one (22.3%) or 2 or more (33.8%) conditions. Many used at least one form of CAM. Multivitamins, multiminerals, or both (52.7%); vitamins (34.8%); and minerals (28.4%) were the most common. Compared with adults with no conditions, adults with 2 or more conditions were more likely to use multivitamins or multiminerals or both, vitamins, minerals, nonvitamins or herbs, mind–body therapies, chiropractic or osteopathic manipulation, massage, movement therapies, special diets, acupuncture, naturopathy, or some combination of these therapies (P <.003). Conclusion People with multiple chronic conditions have a high prevalence of CAM use. Longitudinal studies are needed to understand the association between CAM use and chronic disease prevention and treatment.

Trends in Obesity Prevalence in Adults With a History of Cancer: Results From the US National Health Interview Survey, 1997 to 2014

PURPOSE Obesity after a diagnosis of specific cancers has been associated with worse prognosis. We examined the trend in obesity prevalence among cancer survivors in the United States in the past two decades and compared trends with those of adults without a history of cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS This was a population-based nationally representative sample of 538,969 noninstitutionalized US adults 18 to 85 years old with and without a history of cancer who participated in annual cross-sectional National Health Interview Surveys from 1997 to 2014. Obesity was defined as body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m(2) for non-Asians and body mass index ≥ 27.5 kg/m(2) for Asians. RESULTS Among 32,447 cancer survivors identified, the most common cancer diagnoses were breast (n = 6,948), prostate (n = 3,984), and colorectal (n = 2,546). From 1997 to 2014, the prevalence of obesity increased from 22.4% to 31.7% in cancer survivors and from 20.9% to 29.5% in adults without a history of cancer (P for trend < .001, both groups). Over this period, the estimated rate of annual increase in obesity prevalence was higher in women and men with a history of cancer compared with those without a history of cancer (all P for interaction < .001). The estimated rate of annual increase in obesity prevalence was 3.1% in female and 3.7% in male colorectal cancer survivors, 3.0% in breast cancer survivors, and 2.1% in prostate cancer survivors (all P < .001). In subgroup analyses, populations with the highest rates of increasing obesity burden were colorectal cancer survivors, breast cancer survivors, and non-Hispanic blacks. CONCLUSION From 1997 to 2014, obesity increased more rapidly among adult cancer survivors compared with the general population. Colorectal and breast cancer survivors and non-Hispanic blacks were identified as being at the highest risk for obesity.

BMI, Lifestyle Factors and Taxane-Induced Neuropathy in Breast Cancer Patients: The Pathways Study

Background: Lifestyle factors may be associated with chemotherapy‐induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). We examined associations between body mass index (BMI) and lifestyle factors with CIPN in the Pathways Study, a prospective cohort of women with invasive breast cancer. Methods: Analyses included 1237 women who received taxane treatment and provided data on neurotoxicity symptoms. Baseline interviews assessed BMI (normal: <25 kg/m2; overweight: 25‐29.9 kg/m2; obese: ≥30 kg/m2), moderate‐to‐vigorous physical activity (MVPA) (low: <2.5; medium: 2.5‐5; high: >5 hours/week) and fruit/vegetable intake (low: <35 servings/week; high: ≥35 servings/week). Baseline and six‐month interviews assessed antioxidant supplement use (nonuser, discontinued, continued user, initiator). CIPN was assessed at baseline, six months, and 24 months using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy‐Taxane Neurotoxicity (FACT‐NTX); a 10% decrease was considered clinically meaningful. Results: At baseline, 65.6% of patients in the sample were overweight or obese, 29.9% had low MVPA, 57.5% had low fruit/vegetable intake, and 9.5% reported antioxidant supplement use during treatment. In multivariable analyses, increased CIPN was more likely to occur in overweight (odds ratio [OR] = 2.37, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.19 to 4.88) and obese patients (OR = 3.21, 95% CI = 1.52 to 7.02) compared with normal weight patients at 24 months and less likely to occur in patients with high MVPA compared with those with low MVPA at six (OR = 0.56, 95% CI = 0.34 to 0.94) and 24 months (OR = 0.43, 95% CI = 0.21 to 0.87). Compared with nonusers, patients who initiated antioxidant use during treatment were more likely to report increased CIPN at six months (OR = 3.81, 95% CI = 1.82 to 8.04). Conclusions: Obesity and low MVPA were associated with CIPN in breast cancer patients who received taxane treatment.

Association Between Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use and Breast Cancer Chemotherapy Initiation: The Breast Cancer Quality of Care (BQUAL) Study

IMPORTANCE Not all women initiate clinically indicated breast cancer adjuvant treatment. It is important for clinicians to identify women at risk for noninitiation. OBJECTIVE To determine whether complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use is associated with decreased breast cancer chemotherapy initiation. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS In this multisite prospective cohort study (the Breast Cancer Quality of Care [BQUAL] study) designed to examine predictors of breast cancer treatment initiation and adherence, 685 women younger than 70 years with nonmetastatic invasive breast cancer were recruited from Columbia University Medical Center, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, and Henry Ford Health System and enrolled between May 2006 and July 31, 2010. Overall, 306 patients (45%) were clinically indicated to receive chemotherapy per National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines. Participants were followed for up to 12 months. EXPOSURES Baseline interviews assessed current use of 5 CAM modalities (vitamins and/or minerals, herbs and/or botanicals, other natural products, mind-body self-practice, mind-body practitioner-based practice). CAM use definitions included any use, dietary supplement use, mind-body use, and a CAM index summing the 5 modalities. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Chemotherapy initiation was assessed via self-report up to 12 months after baseline. Multivariable logistic regression models examined a priori hypotheses testing whether CAM use was associated with chemotherapy initiation, adjusting for demographic and clinical covariates, and delineating groups by age and chemotherapy indication. RESULTS A cohort of 685 women younger than 70 years (mean age, 59 years; median age, 59 years) with nonmetastatic invasive breast cancer were recruited and followed for up to 12 months to examine predictors of breast cancer treatment initiation. Baseline CAM use was reported by 598 women (87%). Chemotherapy was initiated by 272 women (89%) for whom chemotherapy was indicated, compared with 135 women (36%) for whom chemotherapy was discretionary. Among women for whom chemotherapy was indicated, dietary supplement users and women with high CAM index scores were less likely than nonusers to initiate chemotherapy (odds ratio [OR], 0.16; 95% CI, 0.03-0.51; and OR per unit, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.46-0.87, respectively). Use of mind-body practices was not related to chemotherapy initiation (OR, 1.45; 95% CI, 0.57-3.59). There was no association between CAM use and chemotherapy initiation among women for whom chemotherapy was discretionary. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE CAM use was high among patients with early-stage breast cancer enrolled in a multisite prospective cohort study. Current dietary supplement use and higher number of CAM modalities used but not mind-body practices were associated with decreased initiation of clinically indicated chemotherapy. Oncologists should consider discussing CAM with their patients during the chemotherapy decision-making process.

Long-term diet and biomarker changes after a short-term intervention among Hispanic breast cancer survivors: The ¡Cocinar Para Su Salud! randomized controlled trial

Background: Among Hispanic breast cancer survivors, we examined the long-term effects of a short-term culturally based dietary intervention on increasing fruits/vegetables (F/V), decreasing fat, and changing biomarkers associated with breast cancer recurrence risk. Methods: Spanish-speaking women (n = 70) with a history of stage 0–III breast cancer who completed treatment were randomized to ¡Cocinar Para Su Salud! (n = 34), a culturally based 9-session program (24 hours over 12 weeks, including nutrition education, cooking classes, and food-shopping field trips), or a control group (n = 36, written dietary recommendations for breast cancer survivors). Diet recalls, fasting blood, and anthropometric measures were collected at baseline, 6, and 12 months. We report changes between groups at 12 months in dietary intake and biomarkers using 2-sample Wilcoxon t tests and generalized estimating equation (GEE) models. Results: At 12 months, the intervention group compared with the control group reported higher increases in mean daily F/V servings (total: +2.0 vs. −0.4; P < 0.01), and nonsignificant decreases in the percentage of calories from fat (−2.2% vs. −1.1%; P = 0.69) and weight (−2.6 kg vs. −1.5 kg; P = 0.56). Compared with controls, participants in the intervention group had higher increases in plasma lutein (+20.4% vs. −11.5%; P < 0.01), and borderline significant increases in global DNA methylation (+0.8% vs. −0.5%; P = 0.06). Conclusions: The short-term ¡Cocinar Para Su Salud! program was effective at increasing long-term F/V intake in Hispanic breast cancer survivors and changed biomarkers associated with breast cancer recurrence risk. Impact: It is possible for short-term behavioral interventions to have long-term effects on behaviors and biomarkers in minority cancer patient populations. Results can inform future study designs. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 25(11); 1491–502. ©2016 AACR.

Natural Products for Cancer Prevention: Clinical Update 2016

OBJECTIVES To present a clinical update of natural products for cancer prevention and provide oncology nurses with an evidence-based review of natural products for patient counseling and education. DATA SOURCES Clinical trials published in PubMed. CONCLUSION In the past 4 years since the publication of the original review there have been minimal changes in the conclusions of the published literature on the use of natural products for cancer prevention. To date, clinical trials have not demonstrated conclusive benefit of using natural products for cancer prevention, and current guidelines do not recommend their use. This review provides an update on published and ongoing trials and can serve as an updated resource for nurses. Evidence-based natural products databases can help nurses stay current with the scientific literature and be effective educators and health coaches for their patients, who can be influenced by marketing of unregulated products. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE Patients often discuss the use of natural products with nurses. Nurses have an opportunity to educate and coach patients in effective preventive lifestyle practices.

Psychosocial mediators of dietary change among Hispanic/Latina breast cancer survivors in a culturally tailored dietary intervention

To examine psychosocial mediators of the effect of a culturally tailored dietary intervention on dietary change among Hispanic/Latina breast cancer survivors.

Phase II Feasibility Study of a Weight Loss Intervention in Female Breast and Colorectal Cancer Survivors (SWOG S1008).

This study aimed to test the feasibility of a 12‐month weight loss intervention using telephone‐based counseling plus community‐situated physical activity (PA) in female breast cancer (BC) and colorectal cancer (CRC) survivors.