Skip to main content
Springer logoLink to Springer
. 2025 Mar 21;33(4):311. doi: 10.1007/s00520-025-09362-4

The association between allostatic load and lymphedema in breast cancer survivors

Barnabas Obeng-Gyasi 1, Yevgeniya Gokun 2, Mohamed I Elsaid 2,3,4, JC Chen 5, Barbara L Andersen 6, William E Carson 5, Sachin Jhawar 7, Jesus D Anampa 8, Dionisia Quiroga 4, Roman Skoracki 9, Samilia Obeng-Gyasi 5,
PMCID: PMC11928421  PMID: 40116971

Abstract

Purpose

Allostatic load, a measure of physiological dysregulation secondary to chronic exposure to socioenvironmental stressors, is associated with 30-day postoperative complications and mortality in patients with breast cancer. This study aimed to examine the association between allostatic load (AL) at diagnosis and development of breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL).

Methods

Patients aged 18 years or older who received surgical treatment for stage I-III breast cancer between 2012 and 2020 were identified from The Ohio State University Cancer Registry. AL was calculated using biomarkers from the cardiovascular, metabolic, renal, and immunologic systems. A high AL was defined as AL > median. Logistic regression analyses examined the association between AL and BRCL, adjusting for sociodemographic, clinical, and treatment factors.

Results

Among 3,609 patients, 18.86% (n = 681) developed lymphedema. A higher proportion of patients with lymphedema were Black (11.89% vs. 7.38%, p < 0.0001), Medicaid insured (12.19% vs. 6.97%, p < 0.0001), had stage 3 disease (7.05% vs. 1.57%, p < 0.0001), and had a high AL (53.63% vs. 46.90%, p = 0.0018). In adjusted analysis, high AL was associated with higher odds of developing lymphedema than low AL (OR 1.281 95% CI 1.06–1.55). Moreover, a 1-unit increase in AL was associated with 10% higher odds of lymphedema (OR 1.10, 95% CI 1.04–1.16). There was no statistically significant association between AL and severity of lymphedema (OR 1.02, 95% CI 0.82–1.23).

Conclusion

In this retrospective cohort of breast cancer survivors, high AL at diagnosis was associated with higher odds of developing lymphedema. Future research should elucidate the pathways by which AL influences lymphedema.

Supplementary information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00520-025-09362-4.

Keywords: Breast cancer, Allostatic load, Lymphedema, Stress, Survivorship

Introduction

Breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) is a common debilitating complication following breast cancer treatment, with incidence rates ranging between 5–40% depending on risk factors such as obesity, infections, receipt of radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and extent of axillary lymph node dissection [13]. Recent studies have highlighted the influence of socioenvironmental stressors, defined as the social and physical aspects of an individual’s living and working conditions, on the development and severity of BCRL[4, 5]. For example, rurality, low income, and poor social support have been associated with the development of BCRL [4, 5]. Additionally, comorbidities such as obesity, which have previously been linked to adverse socioenvironmental stressors, have also been associated with a higher risk of developing BCRL [6, 7]. Nonetheless, despite growing evidence suggesting an association between socioenvironmental stressors and lymphedema, there is a paucity of research examining the biological correlates of these stressors, such as allostatic load, in the context of BCRL [8].

Allostatic load (AL) is a multisystem construct incorporating biomarkers from various physiological domains, including the metabolic, neuroendocrine, immune, and cardiovascular systems, to measure physiological dysregulation secondary to chronic activation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis and the sympathetic-adrenal-medullary (SAM) pathway [9]. AL has been linked to various adverse health outcomes, including cancer [1013]. Previous studies have demonstrated that high AL, an indicator of greater physiologic dysregulation, is associated with more advanced disease severity and increased all-cause mortality in patients with breast cancer and other solid tumors [1416]. Moreover, elevated AL has been associated with socioenvironmental factors such as race, socioeconomic status, and neighborhood characteristics [14, 16]. Our recent examination of AL and 30-day postoperative complications in patients with breast cancer showed an association between high AL and higher rates of developing postoperative complications [17]. Furthermore, mediation analysis suggested that AL may influence the development of postoperative complications indirectly through comorbidities and directly through an independent pathway [17]. Taken together, these studies suggest AL might be a plausible biological intermediary between socioenvironmental stressors and the development of chronic post-treatment complications such as BCRL (Fig. 1).

Fig.1.

Fig.1

Conceptual Framework of the Association between Socioenvironmental Stressors, Allostatic Load and Breast Cancer Related Lymphedema

The objective of this study was to understand the association between AL at diagnosis and lymphedema development in a cohort of breast cancer survivors who received surgical treatment. We hypothesize that patients with high allostatic load scores at diagnosis will have higher odds of developing lymphedema than those with low allostatic load scores.

Methods

Data source

Women diagnosed with stage I-III breast cancer from January 1st, 2012, through December 31st, 2020, who underwent operative management were identified in The Ohio State University Cancer registry and The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center electronic medical records (IHIS). Patients diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ (stage 0), metastatic disease (stage IV), recurrent breast cancer, unknown breast cancer subtype, and individuals who did not receive surgical management, had missing lymphedema information, or had lower extremity lymphedema were excluded. (Fig. 2).

Fig. 2.

Fig. 2

Study Schema

Study measures

Sociodemographic characteristics

Sociodemographic variables included age, race (White, Black, or Other), ethnicity (Hispanic or non-Hispanic), marital status (single, married/living as married or widowed/separated/divorced), insurance (Private, Medicaid, Medicare, Other), smoking history (yes or no) and alcohol use (yes or no). All racial and ethnic categories are self-reported. Patients who self-identified as Asian, American Indian, Alaskan Native, Other Pacific Islander, Native Hawaiian, or multiracial were collapsed into the “Other” category due to small sample sizes. In this study, race is a sociopolitical construct, not a measure of genetic ancestry [18]. The Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) was categorized into 0, 1–3, or 4 + and was modified to exclude cancer as a contributor to comorbidity [19].

Clinical and treatment characteristics

Patient stage (clinical and pathological), hormone receptor status (estrogen and progesterone receptors [HR]), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) status were obtained from the electronic medical record. Molecular subtypes were categorized into HR positive/HER2 negative (HR + /HER2-), HR + /HER2 + , HR-/HER2 + or HR-/HER2-. Breast (mastectomy, lumpectomy, or both) and axillary (sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) only, axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) only, or both SLNB and ALND) surgeries were included. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy were dichotomized as yes or no.

Allostatic load

There is currently no consensus on standard biomarkers for calculating allostatic load[20]. This study uses biomarkers across four physiologic systems commonly reported in the literature: cardiovascular (heart rate (HR), systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressures), metabolic (body mass index (BMI), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), glucose, albumin), renal (creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN)), and immunologic (white blood cell count (WBC))[20]. Biomarkers were collected up to 12 months before or 6 months following biopsy-proven cancer diagnosis in the electronic medical record. Distributions of these biomarkers were divided into quartiles, and values in the worst quartile of the cohort were given a point [21]. Specifically, biomarkers ≥ 75th percentile for HR, SBP, DBP, ALP, glucose, creatinine, BUN, and WBC were each given a point. In contrast, albumin ≤ 25th percentile was assigned a point. Patients with a BMI of < 18.5 or ≥ 30 were also given a point. Points were summed and then dichotomized into low vs. high based on the median sum score (AL 2.0) and categorized into quartiles (Q1 with sum 0–1, Q2 with sum 2, Q3 with sum 3–4, Q4 with sum 5 +). Higher scores were indicative of worse physiological disturbance.

Study outcome––lymphedema

The primary outcome was the development of breast or ipsilateral upper extremity lymphedema (yes/no). Patients with a history of breast cancer diagnosed between 01/01/2012 and 12/31/2020 who developed lymphedema following their initial treatment (surgery or chemotherapy) were identified through the electronic medical record (EMR). Specifically, a data analyst queried patient notes for the term “lymphedema staging,” and physical therapy notes were subsequently reviewed to confirm the diagnosis and severity of lymphedema. Individuals with either breast-only or upper-extremity lymphedema were coded as ‘yes’ for lymphedema. Patients with lower extremity lymphedema were excluded from the study. The highest grade was selected for patients with multiple grades. Grades were dichotomized as 0/1 or 2/3.

Statistical analysis

Multiple imputations by chained equations were used to account for missing values [22]. Ten imputed datasets were created using logistic regression-based imputation models for binary and ordinal variables, discriminant function for non-ordered variables, and regression-based projected mean matching for continuous variables. Imputation-corrected parameters and standard errors (SEs) were combined using Rubin’s rule[23].

Sociodemographic, clinical, and treatment variables were summarized using descriptive statistics, with medians and interquartile ranges (IQRs) for continuous variables and frequencies and percentages for categorical variables. Differences between groups based on lymphedema development were calculated using Wilcoxon rank-sum, chi-square, or Fisher’s exact test.

Crude and adjusted logistic regression analyses were performed to test the association between AL and the development of lymphedema. In addition, among patients who developed lymphedema, crude and adjusted models assessed lymphedema grade (2/3 vs. 0/1) as the outcome with AL as the exposure. To increase the comparability of our results, we included AL as a continuous, binary, and quartile variable in all fitted regression models.

Secondary analysis examined the relationship between lymphedema and each of the 10 AL biomarkers using established clinical cut-offs [16]. To examine the value of the composite AL as an independent predictor of lymphedema, univariate and multivariable binary logistic regressions modeled each AL biomarker and the composite AL score (as a 1-unit increase).

All analyses were performed using the SAS software (version 9.4; SAS Institute, Cary, NC, USA). A two-sided p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The authors used ChatGPT and Grammarly to improve the language and readability during the preparation of this manuscript.

Results

Description of study cohort

3,609 patients met the study criteria, of whom 18.86% (n = 681) developed lymphedema. Patients who developed BCRL were younger than those who did not develop lymphedema (lymphedema 55.2 years (interquartile range (IQR) 47.1 years-64.0y ears, no lymphedema 59.1 years (IQR 49.7 years −67.1 years). Compared with patients without lymphedema, a higher proportion of patients who developed lymphedema were racialized as Black (lymphedema 11.89% vs. no lymphedema 7.38%, p < 0.0001) and had Medicaid insurance (12.19% vs. 6.97%, p < 0.0001) (Table 1). Additionally, patients who developed lymphedema had more aggressive breast cancer molecular subtypes (p = 0.0033) and higher disease stages (p < 0.0001) than those without lymphedema. A higher percentage of patients with lymphedema received chemotherapy (lymphedema 63.14% vs. no lymphedema 37.77%, p < 0.0001), radiation therapy (lymphedema 66.62% vs. no lymphedema 57.82%, p < 0.01) and underwent ALND (lymphedema 67.11% vs. 5.82%, p < 0.0001). There was no significant difference in the CCI based on lymphedema development (p = 0.515).

Table 1.

Sociodemographic, clinical and treatment characteristics based on lymphedema development

Patient Characteristics, n (%) Total Sample
(N = 3609)
Lymphedema
(n = 681)
No Lymphedema
(n = 2928)
P-value

Age at diagnosis (in years)

Median (Q1, Q3)

58.5 (49.0, 66.5) 55.2 (47.1, 64.0) 59.1 (49.7, 67.1)  < 0.0001

Race

White

Black

Other

3166 (87.73%)

297 (8.23%)

146 (4.05%)

563 (82.76%)

81 (11.89%)

37 (5.43%)

2603 (88.90%)

216 (7.38%)

109 (3.72%)

 < 0.0001

Ethnicity

Hispanic

Non-Hispanic

40 (1.11%)

3569 (98.89%)

12 (1.76%)

669 (98.19%)

28 (0.96%)

2990 (99.04%)

0.0704

Marital Status

Single

Married/living as married

Widowed, separated or divorced

499 (13.83%)

2328 (64.51%)

782 (21.67%)

107 (15.71%)

433 (63.58%)

141 (20.70%)

392 (13.39%)

1895 (64.72%)

641 (21.89%)

0.2686

Insurance

Private

Medicaid

Medicare

Other

2159 (59.82%)

287 (7.95%)

1114 (30.87%)

49 (1.36%)

422 (61.97%)

83 (12.19%)

167 (24.52%)

9 (1.32%)

1737 (59.32%)

204 (6.97%)

947 (32.34%)

40 (1.37%)

 < 0.0001

Smoking History

Never

Current or Former

2254 (62.44%)

1355 (37.56%)

441 (64.79%)

240 (35.21%)

1812 (61.90%)

1116 (38.10%)

0.2468

Alcohol Use

Never

Current or former

1686 (46.72%)

1923 (53.28%)

355 (52.09%)

326 (47.91%)

1331 (45.47%)

1597 (54.53%)

0.0019

Charlson Comorbidity index

0

1–3

 ≥ 4

2879 (79.77%)

655 (18.15%)

75 (2.08%)

541 (79.44%)

122 (17.91%)

18 (2.64%)

2338 (79.85%)

533 (18.20%)

57 (1.95%)

0.5152

Estrogen receptor status

Negative

Positive

662 (18.34%)

2947 (81.66%)

155 (22.76%)

526 (77.24%)

507 (17.32%)

2421 (82.68%)

0.0009

Progesterone receptor

Negative

Positive

1013 (28.07%)

2596 (71.93%)

222 (32.60%)

459 (67.40%)

791 (27.02%)

2137 (72.98%)

0.0035

Subtype

HR + /HER2-

HR + /HER2 + 

HR-/HER2-

HR-/HER2 + 

2303 (63.81%)

645 (17.87%)

495 (13.72%)

166 (4.60%)

399 (58.59%)

127 (18.65%)

120 (17.62%)

35 (5.14%)

1904 (65.03%)

518 (17.69%)

375 (12.81%)

131 (4.47%)

0.0033

Cancer Stage

1

2

3

2497 (69.19%)

1018 (28.21%)

94 (2.60%)

357 (52.42%)

276 (40.53%)

48 (7.05%)

2140 (73.09%)

742 (25.34%)

46 (1.57%)

 < 0.0001

Chemotherapy

Yes

No

1536 (42.56%)

2073 (57.44%)

430 (63.14%)

251 (36.86%)

1106 (37.77%)

1822 (62.23%)

 < 0.0001

Radiation Therapy

Yes

No

2150 (59.57%)

1459 (40.43%)

457 (67.11%)

224 (32.89%)

1693 (57.82%)

1235 (42.18%)

 < 0.0001

Breast surgery type

Mastectomy

Lumpectomy

Both

1467 (40.65%)

2032 (56.30%)

110 (3.05%)

327 (48.02%)

319 (46.84%)

35 (5.14%)

1140 (38.93%)

1713 (58.50%)

75 (2.56%)

 < 0.0001

Lymph node surgery

Sentinel lymph node biopsy only

Axillary lymph node dissection only

Both SLNB + ALND

1411 (39.10%)

226 (6.26%)

1972 (54.64%)

159 (23.35%)

132 (19.38%)

390 (57.27%)

1252 (42.76%)

94 (3.21%)

1582 (54.03%)

 < 0.0001

Allostatic load

Median (IQR)

1.92 (0.80–3.15) 2.18 (1.02–3.49) 1.87 (0.76–3.05) 0.0001

Allostatic load (binary)

Low (≤ 2)

High (> 2)

1871 (51.84%)

1738 (48.16%)

316 (46.42%)

365 (53.58%)

1555 (53.10%)

1373 (46.90%)

0.0025

Allostatic load (quartiles)

Q1 (0–1)

Q2 (2)

Q3 (3–4)

Q4 (5 +)

1035 (28.69%)

836 (23.16%)

1266 (35.09%)

472 (13.07%)

168 (24.65%)

148 (21.76%)

256 (37.61%)

103 (15.98%)

867 (29.62%)

688 (23.48%)

1010 (34.50%)

363 (12.39%)

0.0076

Allostatic load and lymphedema

As a binary variable (low vs. high AL), a higher proportion of patients who developed lymphedema had higher AL (53.58%) than those without lymphedema (46.90%, p < 0.001). Patients with high AL had 28% higher odds of developing lymphedema (OR = 1.28, 95% CI: 1.06–1.55) than those with low AL (Table 2). Similarly, patients in the highest AL quartile (Q4 OR = 1.51, 95% CI: 1.09–2.08) had 51% higher odds of developing lymphedema than those in the lowest AL quartile (Q1). A one-unit increase in AL was associated with 10% higher odds of lymphedema (OR = 1.10, 95% CI: 1.04–1.16). There was no significant association between the lymphedema grade and AL (Table 3). After controlling for individual AL biomarkers, sociodemographic characteristics, and treatment receipt, composite AL and BMI were the only biomarker variables significantly associated with lymphedema (Supplementary Table 1).

Table 2.

Association between AL and development of lymphedema (n = 3,609)*

Crude OR (95% CI) Adjusted OR (95% CI)

AL (continuous)

1-unit increase

1.10 (1.05–1.16) 1.10 (1.04–1.16)

AL (in quartiles)

Q1 (0–1)

Q2 (2)

Q3 (3–4)

Q4 (5 +)

Ref

1.11 (0.87–1.43)

1.31 (1.05–1.64)

1.55 (1.16–2.06)

Ref

1.09 (0.84–1.43)

1.28 (1.00–1.64)

1.51 (1.09–2.08)

AL (binary)

Low (≤ 2)

High (> 2)

Ref

1.31 (1.10–1.56)

Ref

1.28 (1.06–1.55)

*Adjusted for age, race, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, breast surgery type, and lymph node surgery type

Table 3.

Association between AL and Lymphedema Grade (n = 226)*

Crude OR (95% CI) Adjusted OR (95% CI)

AL (continuous)

1-unit increase

1.07 (0.91–1.26) 1.02 (0.85–1.23)

AL (in quartiles)

Q1 (0–1)

Q2 (2)

Q3 (3–4)

Q4 (5 +)

Ref

0.91 (0.40–2.10)

1.64 (0.80–3.34)

1.20 (0.51–2.79)

Ref

0.86 (0.35–2.12)

1.60 (0.73–3.50)

0.92 (0.36–2.35)

AL (binary)

Low (≤ 2)

High (> 2)

Ref

1.56 (0.91–2.68)

Ref

1.46 (0.80–2.67)

*Adjusted for age, race, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, breast surgery type and lymph node surgery

Of note, consistent with existing literature, patients with high AL in this study cohort were more likely to be older, racialized as Black, Medicaid insured, unpartnered, have more aggressive molecular subtypes, higher stages of disease, and a higher CCI than those with low AL (Supplementary Table 2).

Discussion

In this large retrospective analysis of patients who received surgical management for breast cancer, elevated allostatic load was associated with a higher probability of developing BCRL. Moreover, in models controlling for individual AL biomarkers, high AL remained significantly associated with the development of BCRL. These results suggest that AL may contribute to the development of BCRL independent of its individual biomarker components.

The pathophysiology of BCRL suggests that the extent of axillary surgery, radiation therapy, and receipt of taxane chemotherapy cause mechanical disruptions or pathologic changes (e.g., fibrosis) to the lymphatic system, resulting in lymphedema [3, 24]. A plausible mechanistic pathway of how AL influences lymphedema development is concomitantly through its individual biomarkers and as a common factor[25, 26]. For example, biomarkers frequently used to calculate AL, such as albumin, blood glucose, inflammatory biomarkers (e.g., interleukin 6) and BMI have all been implicated in wound healing or BCRL [2731]. Similarly, our supplementary analysis showed an association between 1) AL and BCRL, and 2) BMI and BRCL after controlling for the individual biomarkers used to calculate AL. Additionally, in our prior examination of AL and acute post-operative complications (e.g., hematoma) in patients with breast cancer, AL was associated with the development of postoperative complications directly and indirectly through a shared pathway with comorbidities [17, 32]. This is particularly relevant, as Konishi et al.’s study on factors associated with arm lymphedema post-surgery found that postoperative bleeding increases the likelihood of arm lymphedema [33]. Collectively, these studies suggest AL may work through a bifactor model where AL contributes to treatment-related complications independent of its constituent components [25, 26].

The weathering hypothesis and ecosocial theory may provide conceptual frameworks for the internalization of socioenvironmental stressors through mechanisms such as AL. Both conceptual frameworks postulate that chronic exposure to adverse socioenvironmental stressors results in physiologic and molecular changes with implications for disease distribution within populations [34, 35]. For patients with breast cancer, studies indicate that exposure to adverse socioenvironmental factors, such as low educational attainment, lack of medical insurance, and low income, are associated with BCRL development [36]. In this study, a higher percentage of Black and Medicaid-insured patients had lymphedema compared to other racial categories or insurance types. Also consistent with existing literature, patients encountering adverse socioenvironmental conditions, such as Black women, those with Medicaid insurance, and unpartnered individuals, were more likely to have high AL compared to White women, those with private insurance, and those who were partnered [14, 16, 37, 38]. Overall, this study's findings and existing literature highlight relationships between environmental exposures, their impact on physiology, and potential implications for treatment outcomes.

The percentage of patients developing lymphedema in this study is consistent with prior studies examining lymphedema in patients with breast cancer. In their systematic review and meta-analysis of lymphedema after breast cancer, Disipio et al. estimated an overall BCRL incidence of 16.6% and an incidence range between 8.4% and 24.1% for prospective studies[1]. Similarly, in this study, approximately 19% of patients developed BCRL. Patient (e.g., Black race) characteristics and treatment-related factors (e.g., undergoing axillary lymph node dissection) more common in patients with BCRL were also consistent with existing literature[39, 40].

The strengths of this study include a large, diverse patient cohort and the use of a robust measure of AL that has been used in multiple studies [14, 15, 17, 41]. Moreover, the AL biomarkers used in this study are routinely collected in the clinical care of patients with cancer, allowing others to easily replicate this study in other cancer populations. Secondary analysis confirmed AL was associated with the outcome of interest even after controlling for individual AL biomarkers and sociodemographic, clinical, and treatment factors, enhancing our findings' internal validity.

However, the study also has some limitations. As a single-institution retrospective study, the generalizability of our findings may be limited. Additionally, the retrospective nature introduces potential selection biases. The use of the electronic medical record introduces additional limitations, as it may not capture care provided outside of OSUCCC and is susceptible to exposure misclassification [42]. Future prospective, multi-center studies are needed to validate our findings and explore the mechanisms underlying the association between AL and BCRL.

Conclusion

This study provides novel evidence of the association between AL and BCRL development. Moreover, it highlights the importance of considering the impact of chronic exposure to socioenvironmental stressors, potentially manifesting in measures such as AL, in the context of lymphedema. Future research should focus on elucidating the specific pathways through which AL influences lymphedema development and evaluating the effectiveness of AL-targeted interventions in reducing BCRL risk and improving outcomes for breast cancer survivors.

Supplementary information

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

ESM 1 (24.7KB, docx)

(DOCX 24.7 KB)

Acknowledgements

Samilia Obeng-Gyasi was funded by Conquer Cancer Breast Cancer Research Foundation Advanced Clinical Research Award for Diversity and Inclusion in Breast Cancer Research, The Society of University Surgeons, and The American Cancer Society (RSG-22-106-01-CSCT). Dionisia Quiroga is funded by a Robert A. Winn Diversity in Clinical Trials Career Development Award, funded by Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation.

Author contributions

Yevgeniya Gokun, Mohamed I Elsaid, and Samilia Obeng-Gyasi contributed to the study’s conception and design. Yevgeniya Gokun also prepared materials, collected data, and analyzed the data. Barnabas Obeng-Gyasi drafted the manuscript and all authors critically revised it for intellectual content. All authors approved the final version of the manuscript. 

Funding

Samilia Obeng-Gyasi was funded by Conquer Cancer Breast Cancer Research Foundation Advanced Clinical Research Award for Diversity and Inclusion in Breast Cancer Research, The Society of University Surgeons, and The American Cancer Society (RSG-22–106-01-CSCT). Dionisia Quiroga is funded by a Robert A. Winn Diversity in Clinical Trials Career Development Award, funded by Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation.

Data availability

The data from this study includes Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act data and cannot be publicly shared.

Declarations

Ethical approval

This study was approved by the Ohio State University Office of Responsible Research Practices and complied with all relevant ethical regulations including the Declaration of Helsinki.

Consent to participate

The consent to participate was waived as this is a retrospective study:

Consent to publish

The consent to publish is waived as this is a retrospective study.

Competing interests

The authors have no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose.

Footnotes

Publisher's note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

References

  • 1.DiSipio T, Rye S, Newman B, Hayes S (2013) Incidence of unilateral arm lymphoedema after breast cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet Oncol 14(6):500–515 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 2.Togawa K, Ma H, Sullivan-Halley J, Neuhouser ML, Imayama I, Baumgartner KB, Smith AW, Alfano CM, McTiernan A, Ballard-Barbash R et al (2014) Risk factors for self-reported arm lymphedema among female breast cancer survivors: a prospective cohort study. Breast Cancer Res: BCR 16(4):414 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 3.Nguyen TT, Hoskin TL, Habermann EB, Cheville AL, Boughey JC (2017) Breast cancer-related lymphedema risk is related to multidisciplinary treatment and not surgery alone: results from a large cohort study. Ann Surg Oncol 24(10):2972–2980 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 4.Sayko O, Pezzin LE, Yen TW, Nattinger AB (2013) Diagnosis and treatment of lymphedema after breast cancer: a population-based study. PM R 5(11):915–923 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 5.Koelmeyer LA, Gaitatzis K, Dietrich MS, Shah CS, Boyages J, McLaughlin SA, Taback B, Stolldorf DP, Elder E, Hughes TM et al (2022) Risk factors for breast cancer-related lymphedema in patients undergoing 3 years of prospective surveillance with intervention. Cancer 128(18):3408–3415 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 6.Sayegh HE, Asdourian MS, Swaroop MN, Brunelle CL, Skolny MN, Salama L, Taghian AG (2017) Diagnostic methods, risk factors, prevention, and management of breast cancer-related lymphedema: past, present, and future directions. Curr Breast Cancer Rep 9(2):111–121 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 7.Javed Z, Valero-Elizondo J, Maqsood MH, Mahajan S, Taha MB, Patel KV, Sharma G, Hagan K, Blaha MJ, Blankstein R et al (2022) Social determinants of health and obesity: findings from a national study of US adults. Obesity (Silver Spring) 30(2):491–502 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 8.Invernizzi M, Lopez G, Michelotti A, Venetis K, Sajjadi E, De Mattos-Arruda L, Ghidini M, Runza L, de Sire A, Boldorini R et al (2020) Integrating biological advances into the clinical management of breast cancer related lymphedema. Front Oncol 10:422 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 9.McEwen BS (2000) Allostasis and allostatic load: implications for neuropsychopharmacology. Neuropsychopharmacology 22(2):108–124 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 10.Kinlein SA, Karatsoreos IN (2020) The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis as a substrate for stress resilience: Interactions with the circadian clock. Front Neuroendocrinol 56:100819 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 11.Guan Y, Shen J, Lu J, Fuemmeler BF, Shock LS, Zhao H (2023) Association between allostatic load and breast cancer risk: a cohort study. Breast Cancer Res: BCR 25(1):155 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 12.Schulz KH, Gold S (2006) Psychological stress, immune function and disease development. The psychoneuroimmunologic perspective. Bundesgesundheitsbl Gesundheitsforsch Gesundheitsschutz 49(8):759–772 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 13.Schulz KH, Heesen C, Gold SM (2005) The concept of allostasis and allostatic load: psychoneuroimmunological findings. Psychother Psychosom Med Psychol 55(11):452–461 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 14.Chen JC, Elsaid MI, Handley D, Plascak JJ, Andersen BL, Carson WE, Pawlik TM, Fareed N, Obeng-Gyasi S (2024) Association between neighborhood opportunity, allostatic load, and all-cause mortality in patients with breast cancer. J Clin Oncol: Off J Am Soc Clin Oncol Jco2300907 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed]
  • 15.Chen JC, Handley D, Elsaid MI, Plascak JJ, Andersen BL, Carson WE, Pawlik TM, Carlos RC, Obeng-Gyasi S (2024) The implications of racialized economic segregation and allostatic load on mortality in patients with breast cancer. Ann Surg Oncol 31(1):365–375 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 16.Obeng-Gyasi S, Elsaid MI, Lu Y, Chen J, Carson WE, Ballinger TJ, Andersen BL (2023) Association of allostatic load with all-cause mortality in patients with breast cancer. JAMA Netw Open 6(5):e2313989–e2313989 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 17.Chen JC, Elsaid MI, Handley D, Anderson L, Andersen BL, Carson WE, Beane JD, Kim A, Skoracki R, Pawlik TM et al (2024) Allostatic load as a predictor of postoperative complications in patients with breast cancer. NPJ Breast Cancer 10(1):44 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 18.Kittles RA, Weiss KM (2003) Race, ancestry, and genes: implications for defining disease risk. Annu Rev Genomics Hum Genet 4:33–67 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 19.Charlson ME, Pompei P, Ales KL, MacKenzie CR (1987) A new method of classifying prognostic comorbidity in longitudinal studies: development and validation. J Chronic Dis 40(5):373–383 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 20.Duong MT, Bingham BA, Aldana PC, Chung ST, Sumner AE (2017) Variation in the calculation of allostatic load score: 21 examples from NHANES. J Racial Ethn Health Disparities 4(3):455–461 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 21.Juster RP, Russell JJ, Almeida D, Picard M (2016) Allostatic load and comorbidities: a mitochondrial, epigenetic, and evolutionary perspective. Dev Psychopathol 28(4pt1):1117–1146 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 22.Liu Y, De A (2015) Multiple Imputation by fully conditional specification for dealing with missing data in a large epidemiologic study. Int J Stat Med Res 4(3):287–295 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 23.Rubin DB (1976) Inference and missing data. Biometrika 63:581–592 [Google Scholar]
  • 24.Grada AA, Phillips TJ (2017) Lymphedema: pathophysiology and clinical manifestations. J Am Acad Dermatol 77(6):1009–1020 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 25.Wiley JF, Gruenewald TL, Karlamangla AS, Seeman TE (2016) Modeling multisystem physiological dysregulation. Psychosom Med 78(3):290–301 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 26.Wiley JF, Gruenewald TL, Karlamangla AS, Seeman TE (2017) The authors reply: pursuing the optimal operationalization of allostatic load. Psychosom Med 79(1):119–121 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 27.Helyer LK, Varnic M, Le LW, Leong W, McCready D (2010) Obesity is a risk factor for developing postoperative lymphedema in breast cancer patients. Breast J 16(1):48–54 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 28.Ridner SH, Dietrich MS, Kidd N (2011) Breast cancer treatment-related lymphedema self-care: education, practices, symptoms, and quality of life. Support Care Cancer : Off J Multinatl Assoc Support Care Cancer 19(5):631–637 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 29.Vang AR, Shaitelman SF, Rasmussen JC, Chan W, Sevick-Muraca EM, Aldrich MB (2023) Plasma cytokines/chemokines as predictive biomarkers for lymphedema in breast cancer patients. Cancers (Basel) 15(3):676 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed]
  • 30.Singh S, Young A, McNaught C-E (2017) The physiology of wound healing. Surg Infect (Larchmt) 35(9):473–477 [Google Scholar]
  • 31.Doweiko JP, Nompleggi DJ (1991) The role of albumin in human physiology and pathophysiology, Part III: Albumin and disease states. JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr 15(4):476–483 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 32.Gouin JP, Kiecolt-Glaser JK (2012) The impact of psychological stress on wound healing: methods and mechanisms. Crit Care Nurs Clin North Am 24(2):201–213 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 33.Konishi T, Tanabe M, Michihata N, Matsui H, Nishioka K, Fushimi K, Seto Y, Yasunaga H (2023) Risk factors for arm lymphedema following breast cancer surgery: a Japanese nationwide database study of 84,022 patients. Breast Cancer (Tokyo, Japan) 30(1):36–45 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 34.Geronimus AT, Hicken M, Keene D, Bound J (2006) “Weathering” and age patterns of allostatic load scores among blacks and whites in the United States. Am J Public Health 96(5):826–833 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 35.Krieger N (2001) Theories for social epidemiology in the 21st century: an ecosocial perspective. Int J Epidemiol 30(4):668–677 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 36.Norman SA, Localio AR, Kallan MJ, Weber AL, Simoes Torpey HA, Potashnik SL, Miller LT, Fox KR, DeMichele A, Solin LJ (2010) Risk factors for lymphedema after breast cancer treatment. Cancer Epidemiol Biomark Prev 19(11):2734–2746 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 37.Parente V, Hale L, Palermo T (2013) Association between breast cancer and allostatic load by race: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999–2008. Psychooncology 22(3):621–628 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 38.Rote S (2017) Marital disruption and allostatic load in late life. J Aging Health 29(4):688–707 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 39.Rochlin DH, Barrio AV, McLaughlin S, Van Zee KJ, Woods JF, Dayan JH, Coriddi MR, McGrath LA, Bloomfield EA, Boe L et al (2023) Feasibility and clinical utility of prediction models for breast cancer-related lymphedema incorporating racial differences in disease incidence. JAMA Surg 158(9):954–964 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 40.Heller DR, Axelrod B, Sevilimedu V, Morrow M, Mehrara BJ, Barrio AV (2024) Quality of life after axillary lymph node dissection among racial and ethnic minority women. JAMA Surg 159(6):668–676 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 41.Borho L, Bao R, Elishaev E, Dinkins KD, O’Brien EE, Berger J, Boisen M, Comerci J, Courtney-Brooks M, Edwards RP et al (2024) Association of allostatic load with overall survival in epithelial ovarian cancer. Gynecol Oncol 186:204–210 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 42.Young JC, Conover MM, Funk MJ (2018) Measurement error and misclassification in electronic medical records: methods to mitigate bias. Curr Epidemiol Rep 5(4):343–356 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Associated Data

This section collects any data citations, data availability statements, or supplementary materials included in this article.

Supplementary Materials

ESM 1 (24.7KB, docx)

(DOCX 24.7 KB)

Data Availability Statement

The data from this study includes Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act data and cannot be publicly shared.


Articles from Supportive Care in Cancer are provided here courtesy of Springer

RESOURCES