A systematic review of factors affecting quality of life after postmastectomy breast reconstruction in women with breast cancer

Abstract

The aim of this study is to present a broader perspective of factors affecting the quality of life after postmastectomy breast reconstruction in women with breast cancer by considering these patients' self‐reported outcomes. Methods: The search was performed from 29 March to 19 April 2019, on the following databases: PsycInfo; Web of Science Core Collection, Current Contents Connect, Derwent Innovations Index, KCI‐Korean Journal Database, Russian Science Citation Index, SciELO Citation Index, and MEDLINE. The studies were included if they identified factors affecting self‐reported quality of life after breast reconstruction, in women with breast cancer. Results: One hundred and twenty‐two records were identified. After quality assessment, 44 studies were included for qualitative synthesis. This review comprised a total of 16 683 women who underwent breast reconstruction. The results identified a broad collection of 32 empirically based variables associated with several domains of quality of life. These variables were grouped into four categories: (a) surgical, (b) clinical, (c) psychosocial, and (d) sociodemographic variables. Conclusions: This systematic review goes beyond surgical factors of morbidity and uses patient‐reported outcomes to scope wider issues that influence quality of life, such as psychosocial and sociodemographic variables. It sustains the need to adopt a more holistic approach and advises the consideration of preoperative psychosocial factors to better understand these patients' quality of life after breast reconstruction and to implement future preventive measures.