World J Oncol

World Journal of Oncology, ISSN 1920-4531 print, 1920-454X online, Open Access

Article copyright, the authors; Journal compilation copyright, World J Oncol and Elmer Press Inc

Journal website https://www.wjon.org

Original Article

Volume 14, Number 4, August 2023, pages 300-308

Assessing Adherence to Adjuvant Hormone Therapy in Breast Cancer Patients in Routine Clinical Practice

**Table 1.** Epidemiological and Demographic Characteristics of All Patients Included in the Study (N = 118) and for Patients on AI (N = 74) and Tamoxifen (N = 44)
Variables	Total (n = 118)	AIs (n = 74)	Tamoxifen (n = 44)
AIs: aromatase inhibitors; SD: standard deviation.
Median age (SD), years	63.0 (11.12)	64.0 (11.13)	61.0 (11.12)
Marital status
Married or living with a partner	41 (34.7)	28 (37.8)	13 (29.5)
Divorced	17 (14.4)	10 (13.5)	7 (15.9)
Widowed	20 (16.9)	15 (20.2)	5 (11.4)
Single	13 (11.0)	8 (10.8)	5 (11.4)
No data	27 (11.0)	13 (17.6)	14 (31.8)
Territory of origin
Montevideo	72 (61.0)	46 (62.2)	26 (59.0)
Interior	42 (35.6)	25 (33.8)	17 (38.6)
No data	4 (3.4)	3 (4.0)	1 (2.3)
Level of education
Incomplete primary	16 (13.5)	12 (16.2)	4 (9.0)
Complete primary	29 (24.6)	19 (25.7)	10 (22.7)
Incomplete secondary	17 (14.4)	11 (14.9)	6 (13.6)
Complete secondary	11 (9.3)	7 (9.5)	4 (9.0)
Tertiary	3 (2.5)	2 (2.7)	1 (2.3)
No data	42 (35.6)	23 (31.0)	19 (43.2)
Occupation
Housewife	30 (25.4)	19 (25.6)	11 (25.0)
Retired or pensioner	51 (43.2)	33 (44.6)	18 (40.9)
Employed	15 (12.7)	10 (13.5)	5 (13.3)
No data	22 (18.6)	12 (16.2)	10 (22.7)

Table 1. Epidemiological and Demographic Characteristics of All Patients Included in the Study (N = 118) and for Patients on AI (N = 74) and Tamoxifen (N = 44)

Variables

Total (n = 118)

AIs (n = 74)

Tamoxifen (n = 44)

N (%)

AIs: aromatase inhibitors; SD: standard deviation.

Median age (SD), years

63.0 (11.12)

64.0 (11.13)

61.0 (11.12)

Marital status

Married or living with a partner

41 (34.7)

28 (37.8)

13 (29.5)

Divorced

17 (14.4)

10 (13.5)

7 (15.9)

Widowed

20 (16.9)

15 (20.2)

5 (11.4)

Single

13 (11.0)

8 (10.8)

5 (11.4)

No data

27 (11.0)

13 (17.6)

14 (31.8)

Territory of origin

Montevideo

72 (61.0)

46 (62.2)

26 (59.0)

Interior

42 (35.6)

25 (33.8)

17 (38.6)

No data

4 (3.4)

3 (4.0)

1 (2.3)

Level of education

Incomplete primary

16 (13.5)

12 (16.2)

4 (9.0)

Complete primary

29 (24.6)

19 (25.7)

10 (22.7)

Incomplete secondary

17 (14.4)

11 (14.9)

6 (13.6)

Complete secondary

11 (9.3)

7 (9.5)

4 (9.0)

Tertiary

3 (2.5)

2 (2.7)

1 (2.3)

No data

42 (35.6)

23 (31.0)

19 (43.2)

Occupation

Housewife

30 (25.4)

19 (25.6)

11 (25.0)

Retired or pensioner

51 (43.2)

33 (44.6)

18 (40.9)

Employed

15 (12.7)

10 (13.5)

5 (13.3)

No data

22 (18.6)

12 (16.2)

10 (22.7)

**Table 2.** Clinicopathologic Characteristics, Stage, and HER2 Status of All Patients Included in the Study (N = 118) and for Patients on AIs (N = 74) and Tamoxifen (N = 44)
Variables	Total (n = 118)	AIs (n = 74)	Tamoxifen (n = 44)
HER2: human epidermal growth factor receptor 2; AIs: aromatase inhibitors; TIS: tumor in situ; FISH: fluorescence in situ hybridisation.
Tumor size
TIS	2 (1.7)	0 (0)	2 (4.5)
T1	57 (48.3)	42 (56.7)	15 (34.0)
T2	44 (37.2)	23 (31.0)	21 (47.7)
T3	8 (6.7)	5 (6.7)	3 (6.8)
T4	7 (5.9)	4 (5.4)	3 (6.8)
Axillary status
N0	60 (50.8)	35 (47.3)	25 (56.8)
N1	39 (33.0)	26 (35.1)	13 (29.5)
N2	12 (10.2)	8 (10.8)	4 (9.0)
N3	7 (5.9)	5 (6.7)	2 (4.5)
Stage
0	2 (1.7)	0 (0)	2 (4.5)
I	45 (38.1)	33 (44.6)	12 (27.2)
II	45 (38.1)	28 (37.8)	17 (38.6)
III	22 (18.6)	12 (16.2)	10 (22.7)
No data	4 (3.4)	1 (1.3)	3 (6.8)
HER2 status
HER2-positive (3+/2+, FISH+)	20 (17.0)	14 (18.9)	6 (13.6)
HER2-negative (1+/2+, FISH-)	98 (83.0)	60 (81.0)	38 (86.3)

Table 2. Clinicopathologic Characteristics, Stage, and HER2 Status of All Patients Included in the Study (N = 118) and for Patients on AIs (N = 74) and Tamoxifen (N = 44)

Variables

Total (n = 118)

AIs (n = 74)

Tamoxifen (n = 44)

N (%)

HER2: human epidermal growth factor receptor 2; AIs: aromatase inhibitors; TIS: tumor in situ; FISH: fluorescence in situ hybridisation.

Tumor size

TIS

2 (1.7)

0 (0)

2 (4.5)

57 (48.3)

42 (56.7)

15 (34.0)

44 (37.2)

23 (31.0)

21 (47.7)

8 (6.7)

5 (6.7)

3 (6.8)

7 (5.9)

4 (5.4)

3 (6.8)

Axillary status

60 (50.8)

35 (47.3)

25 (56.8)

39 (33.0)

26 (35.1)

13 (29.5)

12 (10.2)

8 (10.8)

4 (9.0)

7 (5.9)

5 (6.7)

2 (4.5)

Stage

2 (1.7)

0 (0)

2 (4.5)

45 (38.1)

33 (44.6)

12 (27.2)

45 (38.1)

28 (37.8)

17 (38.6)

III

22 (18.6)

12 (16.2)

10 (22.7)

No data

4 (3.4)

1 (1.3)

3 (6.8)

HER2 status

HER2-positive (3+/2+, FISH+)

20 (17.0)

14 (18.9)

6 (13.6)

HER2-negative (1+/2+, FISH-)

98 (83.0)

60 (81.0)

38 (86.3)

**Table 3.** Univariate Associations Between Characteristics of the Sample of 118 Patients Diagnosed With Early ER/PR-Positive BC Treated at the Breast Health Unit and Adherence
	Adherence to treatment	P
aQuantitative variables are presented as means (standard deviation). *P < 0.05. ER: estrogen receptor; PR: progesterone receptor; BC: breast cancer.
Mean agea	60.3 (11)	65.0 (10.9)	0.03*
Territory of origin
Interior	13 (31.7)	31 (40.8)	0.33
Montevideo	28 (68.3)	45 (59.2)
Living with whom
Not alone	33 (82.5)	58 (77.3)	0.52
Alone	7 (17.5)	17 (22.7)
Level of education
Primary	21 (52.5)	41 (55.4)	0.53
Incomplete secondary	8 (20.0)	19 (26.7)
Complete secondary/tertiary	11 (27.5)	14 (18.9)
Occupation
Employed/self-employed	11(28.2)	10 (13.3)	0.21
Unemployed	4 (10.3)	13 (17.3)
Housewife	9 (23.1)	16 (21.3)
Retired	15 (38.5)	36 (48.0)
Marital status
Married/partnered	23 (56.1)	32 (42.1)	0.51
Divorced/separated	6 (14.6)	13 (17.1)
Single	7 (17.1)	16 (21.1)
Widowed	5 (12.2)	15 (19.7)
Stage
I	19 (48.7)	26 (35.6)	0.30
II	12 (30.8)	33 (54.2)
III	8 (20.5)	14 (19.2)
Number of drugs
Less than 2	10 (24.4)	16 (21.6)	0.17
2 to 5	19 (46.3)	31 (41.9)
6 to 9	12 (29.3)	19 (25.7)
10 or more	0 (0.0)	8 (10.8)
Number of drugs
5 or less	29 (70.7)	47 (63.5)	0.43
6 or more	12 (29.3	27 (36.5)

Table 3. Univariate Associations Between Characteristics of the Sample of 118 Patients Diagnosed With Early ER/PR-Positive BC Treated at the Breast Health Unit and Adherence

Adherence to treatment

Yes

N (%)

aQuantitative variables are presented as means (standard deviation). *P < 0.05. ER: estrogen receptor; PR: progesterone receptor; BC: breast cancer.

Mean agea

60.3 (11)

65.0 (10.9)

0.03*

Territory of origin

Interior

13 (31.7)

31 (40.8)

0.33

Montevideo

28 (68.3)

45 (59.2)

Living with whom

Not alone

33 (82.5)

58 (77.3)

0.52

Alone

7 (17.5)

17 (22.7)

Level of education

Primary

21 (52.5)

41 (55.4)

0.53

Incomplete secondary

8 (20.0)

19 (26.7)

Complete secondary/tertiary

11 (27.5)

14 (18.9)

Occupation

Employed/self-employed

11(28.2)

10 (13.3)

0.21

Unemployed

4 (10.3)

13 (17.3)

Housewife

9 (23.1)

16 (21.3)

Retired

15 (38.5)

36 (48.0)

Marital status

Married/partnered

23 (56.1)

32 (42.1)

0.51

Divorced/separated

6 (14.6)

13 (17.1)

Single

7 (17.1)

16 (21.1)

Widowed

5 (12.2)

15 (19.7)

Stage

19 (48.7)

26 (35.6)

0.30

12 (30.8)

33 (54.2)

III

8 (20.5)

14 (19.2)

Number of drugs

Less than 2

10 (24.4)

16 (21.6)

0.17

2 to 5

19 (46.3)

31 (41.9)

6 to 9

12 (29.3)

19 (25.7)

10 or more

0 (0.0)

8 (10.8)

Number of drugs

5 or less

29 (70.7)

47 (63.5)

0.43

6 or more

12 (29.3

27 (36.5)

**Table 4.** Univariate Logistic Models for Non-Adherence to Treatments in the Sample of 118 Patients Diagnosed With Early ER/RP-Positive BC Treated at the Breast Health Unit
	Total (n = 118)	AIs (n = 74)	Tamoxifen (n = 44)
ER: estrogen receptor; PR: progesterone receptor; BC: breast cancer; AIs: aromatase inhibitors; OR: odds ratio; CI: confidence interval.
Age	0.96 (0.92, 0.99)	0.96 (0.91, 1.01)	0.99 (0.94, 1.06)
Territory of origin
Interior	1.0
Montevideo	1.48 (0.67, 3.37)	1.60 (0.51, 5.63)	1.24 (0.35, 4.40)
Living with whom
Not alone	1.0
Alone	0.72 (0.26, 1.87)	0.71 (0.15, 2.60)	1.00 (0.19, 5.71)
Level of education
Primary	1.0
Incomplete secondary	0.82 (0.29, 2.15)	0.67 (0.09, 3.15)	0.64 (0.13, 3.28)
Complete secondary/tertiary	1.53 (0.59, 3.97)	5.00 (0.34, 19.65)	0.24 (0.05, 1.11)
Occupation
Employed/self-employed	1.0
Unemployed	0.28 (0.06, 1.09)	-	1.20 (0.19, 7.77)
Housewife	0.51 (0.15, 1.66)	0.15 (0.02, 0.80)	2.40 (0.40, 16.64)
Retired	0.38(0.13, 1.08)	0.15 (0.03, 0.68)	1.60 (0.33, 8.22)
Marital status
Married/partnered	1.0
Divorced/separated	0.64 (0.20, 1.89)	0.79 (0.15, 3.42)	0.73 (0.12, 4.63)
Single	0.61 (0.21, 1.67)	0.95 (0.21, 3.79)	0.44 (0.07, 2.18)
Widowed	0.46 (0.14, 1.39)	0.18 (0.01, 1,10)	-
Stage
I	1.0
II	0.50 (0.20, 1.31)	0.86 (0.23, 3.19)	0.29 (0.07, 1.10)
III	0.78 (0.27, 2.21)	0.97 (0.21, 4.11)	2.15 (0.25, 46.59)
Number of drugs
Less than 2	1.0
2 to 5	0.98 (0.27, 1.35)	0.62 (0.12, 3.54)	2.00 (0.50, 8.28)
6 to 9	1.01 (0.37, 2.65)	1.41 (0.31, 7.66)	2.00 (0.29, 18.08)
10 or more	-	-	-
Number of drugs
5 or less	1.0
6 or more	0.72 (0.31, 1.62)	1.37 (0.45, 4.25)	0.88 (0.17, 5.09)

Table 4. Univariate Logistic Models for Non-Adherence to Treatments in the Sample of 118 Patients Diagnosed With Early ER/RP-Positive BC Treated at the Breast Health Unit

Total (n = 118)

AIs (n = 74)

Tamoxifen (n = 44)

OR (95% CI)

ER: estrogen receptor; PR: progesterone receptor; BC: breast cancer; AIs: aromatase inhibitors; OR: odds ratio; CI: confidence interval.

Age

0.96 (0.92, 0.99)

0.96 (0.91, 1.01)

0.99 (0.94, 1.06)

Territory of origin

Interior

1.0

Montevideo

1.48 (0.67, 3.37)

1.60 (0.51, 5.63)

1.24 (0.35, 4.40)

Living with whom

Not alone

1.0

Alone

0.72 (0.26, 1.87)

0.71 (0.15, 2.60)

1.00 (0.19, 5.71)

Level of education

Primary

1.0

Incomplete secondary

0.82 (0.29, 2.15)

0.67 (0.09, 3.15)

0.64 (0.13, 3.28)

Complete secondary/tertiary

1.53 (0.59, 3.97)

5.00 (0.34, 19.65)

0.24 (0.05, 1.11)

Occupation

Employed/self-employed

1.0

Unemployed

0.28 (0.06, 1.09)

1.20 (0.19, 7.77)

Housewife

0.51 (0.15, 1.66)

0.15 (0.02, 0.80)

2.40 (0.40, 16.64)

Retired

0.38(0.13, 1.08)

0.15 (0.03, 0.68)

1.60 (0.33, 8.22)

Marital status

Married/partnered

1.0

Divorced/separated

0.64 (0.20, 1.89)

0.79 (0.15, 3.42)

0.73 (0.12, 4.63)

Single

0.61 (0.21, 1.67)

0.95 (0.21, 3.79)

0.44 (0.07, 2.18)

Widowed

0.46 (0.14, 1.39)

0.18 (0.01, 1,10)

Stage

1.0

0.50 (0.20, 1.31)

0.86 (0.23, 3.19)

0.29 (0.07, 1.10)

III

0.78 (0.27, 2.21)

0.97 (0.21, 4.11)

2.15 (0.25, 46.59)

Number of drugs

Less than 2

1.0

2 to 5

0.98 (0.27, 1.35)

0.62 (0.12, 3.54)

2.00 (0.50, 8.28)

6 to 9

1.01 (0.37, 2.65)

1.41 (0.31, 7.66)

2.00 (0.29, 18.08)

10 or more

Number of drugs

5 or less

1.0

6 or more

0.72 (0.31, 1.62)

1.37 (0.45, 4.25)

0.88 (0.17, 5.09)