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Table 4 Socio-demographic and cancer characteristics of women by weight change groups

From: Weight changes and lifestyle behaviors in women after breast cancer diagnosis: a cross-sectional study

Characteristics

Weight changes groups since diagnosis

Mean (95% CI)

p-value

 

>10%

5-10%

No change*

5-10%

>10%

 
 

weight loss

weight loss

 

weight gain

weight gain

 
 

(n = 40)

(n = 41)

(n = 114)

(n = 60)

(n = 113)

 

Age at diagnosis (years)

50.05

(47.45-52.65)

51.02

(48.17-53.87)

49.19

(47.34-51.05)

47.28

(45.11-49.46)

47.05

(45.47-48.63)

0.06

Ethnicity

      

   Malay

24 (58.5)

20 (48.8)

60 (52.6)

34 (56.7)

72 (19.6)

0.34

   Non-Malay

17 (41.5)

21 (51.2)

54 (47.4)

26 (43.3)

40 (35.7)

 

Marital status

     

0.43

   Married

35 (85.4)

36 (87.8)

90 (78.9)

53 (88.3)

90 (80.4)

 

   Others**

6 (14.6)

5 (12.2)

24 (21.1)

7 (11.7)

22 (19.6)

 

Education (years)

8.56

(7.26-9.86)

8.54

(7.30-9.78)

8.68

(7.93-9.44)

9.92

(8.93-10.90)

9.03

(8.34-9.71)

0.28

   Secondary and lower

22 (53.7)

24 (58.5)

58 (50.9)

22 (36.7)

58 (51.8)

 

   Tertiary and others

19 (46.3)

17 (41.5)

56 (49.1)

38 (63.3)

54 (48.2)

 

Employment status

     

0.86

   Employed

10 (24.4)

12 (29.3)

34 (29.8)

20 (33.3)

37 (33.0)

 

   Unemployed

31 (75.6)

29 (70.7)

80 (70.2)

40 (66.7)

75 (67.0)

 

Monthly household income (RM)

1756.10

(1246.58-2265.61)

2002.63

(1252.71-2752.56)

1967.76

(1563.28-2372.25)

2968.67

(2089.90-3847.44)

2134.45

(1620.90-2647.99)

0.10

Menopausal status at study entry

     

0.10

   Pre-menopausal

3 (7.3)

4 (9.8)

24 (21.1)

14 (23.3)

25 (22.3)

 

   Post-menopausal

38 (92.7)

37 (90.2)

90 (78.9)

46 (76.7)

87 (77.7)

 

Time since diagnosis (years)

4.63

(3.41-5.86)

5.20

(3.74-6.65)

4.67

(4.03-5.31)

4.48

(3.69-5.28)

5.21

(4.65-5.78)

0.59

Stage of cancer

     

0.89

   Stage I

9 (24.3)

12 (31.6)

36 (37.5)

22 (40.7)

38 (37.6)

 

   Stage II

21 (56.8)

19 (50.0)

43 (44.8)

22 (40.7)

46 (45.5)

 

   Stage III

7 (18.9)

7 (18.4)

17 (17.7)

10 (18.5)

17 (16.8)

 

BMI a year preceding diagnosis*** (kg/m2)

26.62

(24.86-28.37)

25.96

(24.45-27.47)

25.18

(24.33-26.04)

24.50

(23.38-25.62)

23.54

(22.78-24.29)

0.001****a, b, c, d

  1. *0-5% weight loss or weight gain
  2. **Single, widowed or divorced
  3. ***Body mass index a year preceding breast cancer diagnosis
  4. ****p < 0.05
  5. a A significant difference between >10% weight loss and 5-10% weight gain groups, at p < 0.05.
  6. b A significant difference between >10% weight loss and >10% weight gain groups, at p < 0.05.
  7. c A significant difference between 5-10% weight loss and >10% weight gain groups, at p < 0.05.
  8. d A significant difference between no change and >10% weight gain groups, at p < 0.05.