Gordura abdominal em pacientes com linfedema pós-tratamento câncer de mama

Abstract

Breast cancer is currently the most common cancer of women worldwide. Historically, one of the most feared complications after the treatment of breast cancer is lymphedema. However, one problem often observed in patients is obesity with abdominal fat being a cardiovascular risk factor. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the distribution of abdominal fat in patients with clinical diagnosis of breast cancer treatment-related lymphedema. Patients and Method: Forty-five female patients with clinical diagnosis of lymphedema after breast cancer treatment were evaluated in a randomized controlled case study in the Clinica Godoy in 2012. A control group of 38womenwithout breast cancer, who attended the clinic for other reasons, were matched for age and body mass index (BMI). Both groups were evaluated by bioimpedance using the InBody®S10 device; age, abdominal fat and BMI were the main variables considered. The unpaired t-test, and Mann-Whitney and Fisher's exact tests were used for statistical analysis with an alpha error of 5% being considered acceptable. Results: There was no significant difference in the BMI between groups (unpaired t-test: p-value=0.23; 95% CI=-2.68-0.66: Standard deviation of study and control groups were 4.03 and 3.53, respectively). However there was a significant difference between the two groups in respect to abdominal fat (unpaired t-test: p-value<0.0001; 95% CI=86.71-116.77 and Mann-Whitney test: mean =100.75; 95% CI =83.7-112.5). Conclusions: Using bioimpedance, this study found that women with arm lymphedema after breast cancer treatment have higher levels of abdominal fat compared to women who had not suffered from breast cancer. Bioimpedance is efficient to evaluate abdominal fat as a low cost option in these patients and not invisibility.