Predictive factors of satisfaction and quality of life after immediate breast reconstruction using the BREAST-Q

Our Breast Unit publishes a study on Predictive factors of satisfaction and quality of life after immediate breast reconstruction using the BREAST-Q in the Journal of Clinical Nursing. In this study the domains on the BREAST-Q© for quality of life with the lowest scores were physical well-being chest (74) and sexual well-being (61.5). The satisfaction domain with the lowest score was with the breast (59). The variables associated with the worst quality of life in the physical well-being chest domain were the skin-sparing mastectomy (OR, 4.2; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.2–14.1) and lymphedema (OR, 12.9; 95% CI, 1.0–159.9). Antibody treatment was associated with a worse score on the psychosocial well-being domain (OR, 4.25; 95% CI, 1.0–18.0) and sexual well-being domain (OR, 7.34; 95% CI, 0.9–54.6). Satisfaction was associated with nicotine dependence on the breast and outcome scale. The higher the dependence on nicotine, the greater the dissatisfaction with the breasts (OR, 2.41; 95% CI, 1.1–5.3) and with the result (OR, 2.45; 95% CI, 1.0–5.9).

We conclude in this study that the type of treatment and lymphedema modify the patients’ quality of life and that the nicotine dependence is associated with lower satisfaction with the breast
and with the outcome

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