Patient-Reported Quality-of-Life Outcomes of Breast Reduction Evaluated with Generic Questionnaires and the Breast Reduction Assessed Severity Scale

Background: The effects of breast reduction on quality of life (QOL) have been evaluated in patients with macromastia, but few investigators have performed condition-specific assessments. Objectives: The authors employed generic and condition-specific questionnaires to examine the QOL of patients with macromastia and determined the responsiveness of the Turkish version of Breast Reduction Assessed Severity Scale (BRASS). Methods: This prospective cohort study included patients with breast hypertrophy who underwent breast reduction (n = 94). Patients completed the Turkish versions of the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), the BRASS, and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale preoperatively and 4 months postoperatively. Differences in responses were evaluated by paired t-test and by comparing change effect sizes. Multiple regression analyses were performed to evaluate improvements in QOL in response to adjustments in baseline differences across patients. Results: Preoperative and postoperative questionnaires were completed by 78 patients (83%). Significant postoperative improvements in self-esteem (Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale; P<.001) and in all domains of the BRASS (P<.001) were noted. Mean preoperative scores for 5 of 8 domains in the SF-36 were lower than those of a normative population. Postoperatively, all 5 mean scores improved significantly, but the score for bodily pain remained less than that of a normative population. Conclusions: The results of this study indicate significant improvements in health-related QOL at 4 months after breast reduction in a population of patients with macromastia. The authors also demonstrate excellent responsiveness of the BRASS.