@article{ref1,
title="Joint pain and falls among women with breast cancer on aromatase inhibitors",
journal="Supportive care in cancer",
year="2019",
author="Basal, Coby and Vertosick, Emily and Gillis, Theresa A. and Li, Qing and Bao, Ting and Vickers, Andrew and Mao, Jun J.",
volume="27",
number="6",
pages="2195-2202",
abstract="PURPOSE: Arthralgia is common among women with breast cancer on adjuvant aromatase inhibitor (AI) therapy. Pain is associated with falls in the general population; however, little is known about the relationship between arthralgia and falls among AI users. Our objective was to determine whether joint pain severity and interference predict future falls. <br><br>METHODS: We conducted a prospective cohort study of postmenopausal women with stage I-III estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer who were prescribed a third-generation AI. Arthralgia symptoms were measured at baseline using a modified version of the Brief Pain Inventory. Fall occurrence was obtained at 24-month follow-up. <br><br>RESULTS: Among 667 participants (median age 63 years, interquartile range 57-69 years), 232 (35%, 95% CI 31 to 39%) reported falls 12-24 months after baseline. Among women who fell, 65 (28%) reported seeking medical assistance. After controlling for multiple fall risk factors, we found significant non-linear associations between baseline joint pain severity and risk of falls (p = 0.001). Women with joint pain severity scores ≥ 4 had a more than twofold increase in fall risk compared to those without pain (41% vs. 20%). We observed a similar relationship for pain interference and fall risk (p < 0.001). Fewer than half of participants reported having been asked about falls in the past 12 months by their primary care physician (44%) or oncologist (36%). <br><br>CONCLUSION: Joint pain increases the risk of falls among women with breast cancer on adjuvant AI therapy. Health care providers should evaluate and manage arthralgia symptoms and implement fall-prevention strategies for those who are at increased risk.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0941-4355",
doi="10.1007/s00520-018-4495-4",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00520-018-4495-4"
}