The prevalence rate of deviations in body constitutions and related factors in follow-up stage breast cancer patients-A nationwide study

•High prevalence of deviation body constitution in follow-up stage breast cancer is observed.•Breast cancer patients' lifestyle behavior was highly correlated with deviation body constitution.•Lifestyle behaviors were the predictors of deviation body constitutions.

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to apply a rigorous traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) body constitution questionnaire (BCQ) to survey the prevalence rate of deviations in body constitution and to explore the health-related lifestyle behavior factors of deviations in body constitution.DesignA cross-sectional study was administered through postal mail. Subjects were recruited from a national organization for breast cancer patients (Taiwan Breast Cancer Alliance).Setting/main outcome measuresData were obtained from 311 breast cancer patients by questionnaires including a demographic record sheet, lifestyle behavior scales and the BCQ (Yang-Xu, Yin-Xu, and Stasis). Differences concerning the presence of body constitutions were analyzed by Chi-square tests and analyses of variance, and potential predictive factors were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression.ResultsIn total, 55.3% of the subjects had a Yang-Xu constitution, 61.0% had a Yin-Xu constitution, and 47.6% had a Stasis constitution. A total of 42.8% of the patients displayed a combination of the three types of body constitutions. Feeling stressed, physical exercise, and favoring fried food were predictors of the combined Yang-Xu, Yin-Xu and Stasis constitutions (p < 0.05). Staying up late was significantly associated with Yin-Xu (p = 0.017), and favoring salty food was significantly associated with Stasis (p = 0.019).ConclusionsA high prevalence of deviations in body constitutions was observed in the follow-up stage of breast cancer patients. Increasing the adherence to healthy lifestyle behaviors might strengthen and balance body constitution, which could improve supportive care in breast cancer survivors.