Bioelectrical impedance vector applied to body composition evaluation of women survivors of breast cancer: A longitudinal study

Background and aims: Thus, the aim of this study was to assess the changes in the body composition of the women survivors of breast cancer and its association with clinical staging, using the bioelectrical impedance vector analysis (BIVA), over five years of follow-up.

Methods: At baseline time 114 patients (T0) were selected and after 5 years (T1) of follow-up (n = 35) data of weight, body mass index, waist circumference, phase angle, resistance/height, reactance/height, %fat free mass and %fat mass were monitored. Bioelectrical impedance vector analysis (BIVA) and the vector displacement assessment took place according to the initial and advanced clinical staging (CS 1 and 2, respectively) and time of follow-up and have been showed using mean graph and RXc score graph.

Results: Patients on CS 1 showed a reduction in reactance/height, phase angle, %fat free mass and an increase in %fat mass. The same group presented during the follow-up significant vector displacement by mean graph and a change to the 95% ellipse by the RXc score graph.

Conclusions: Women with breast cancer in the initial CS showed a more significant displacement of bioelectric vectors, indicating worsening in body composition.