FACTORS PREDICTING STAGE OF BREAST-CANCER AT DIAGNOSIS IN MIDDLE-AGEDAND ELDERLY WOMEN - THE ROLE OF LIVING ARRANGEMENTS

We examined whether sociodemographic, health, and psychosocial factors predict stage at diagnosis in 444 women aged 55-84 with newly diagnos ed, microscopically confirmed breast cancer. Stage was defined as loca l or advanced (regional or remote). One of the most interesting predic tors of disease stage was living arrangement. The odds of being diagno sed with advanced disease were twice as great among women living with a spouse than among women living alone (95% CL = 1.16, 3.35), after ad justing for the effects of age, body mass index, income, comorbid cond itions, smoking, and group membership. For those living with someone o ther than a spouse, the odds of advanced disease were 1.7 times greate r than among those living alone (95% CL = 0.96, 3.06). Middle aged and older women who live alone may be more likely to monitor their own he alth and to use the health care system, and therefore have a greater c hance of being diagnosed at an early stage of breast cancer.