Analysis of Lifestyle Data of Breast Cancer Patients to Assess Bone Health

The exploratory study on bone health REBECCA-OST, carried out in Spain INCLIVA Biomedical Research Institute, focuses on understanding the effects of adjuvant endocrine therapy with aromatase inhibitors on the bone health of breast cancer patients to improve their treatments.

Although this treatment is effective in reducing and preventing cancer recurrence, it has the side effect of negatively impacting bone health, accelerating the development of osteopenia —a condition characterized by lower-than-normal bone density— and osteoporosis —a disease in which bones weaken and are more prone to fractures due to significant bone density loss—.

During the first phase of the exploratory study, 92 patients were recruited, with 80 ultimately participating, to evaluate the functional and emotional characteristics during the first year of treatment using real-life data from three information sources:

· Case Report Forms: Containing clinical and quality of life information provided by the patients during their medical visits to the Clinical University Hospital of Valencia and through the questionnaires completed during the initial workshop.

· Smartwatches: Recording data on sleep quality, physical activity, and other health indicators, providing continuous monitoring of the patients’ physical condition.

· Mobile Application: Used by the patients to complete questionnaires and other forms of data collection, such as photos or short questions, facilitating remote monitoring of their health status.

Currently, this data is being analysed by one of the Greeks partners in the REBECCA project, Harokopio University of Athens, to evaluate the impact of the treatment on their bone health, initiating the second phase of the study.

This data analysis aims to assess whether there are significant differences in the quality of life between patients classified in the severe osteopenia group (36 patients) and those in the mild osteopenia group (46 patients). This comparison is crucial for identifying specific needs and adjusting management and treatment strategies.

The study significantly contributes towards personalized treatment for breast cancer patients to improve their follow-up and anticipate risky situations or complications, enhancing thus their quality of life.