Social factors, diet and breast cancer in a northern Italian population
1984

Social Factors, Diet, and Breast Cancer in Northern Italy

Sample size: 741 publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): R. Talamini, C. La Vecchia, A. Decarli, S. Franceschi, E. Grattoni, E. Grigoletto, A. Liberati, G. Tognoni

Primary Institution: Instituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche 'Mario Negri'

Hypothesis

Is there a relationship between social factors, diet, and the risk of breast cancer?

Conclusion

The study found that higher alcohol consumption and obesity are associated with an increased risk of breast cancer.

Supporting Evidence

  • Women who drank alcohol had a relative risk of 2.5 compared to non-drinkers.
  • Obesity was associated with increased breast cancer risk, especially in post-menopausal women.
  • Consumption of milk and dairy products was linked to a higher risk of breast cancer.

Takeaway

Women who drink alcohol and are overweight are more likely to get breast cancer.

Methodology

A case-control study involving interviews with 368 women with breast cancer and 373 age-matched controls.

Potential Biases

There is a low risk of bias due to the nature of the interviews and the population studied.

Limitations

The study may not account for all potential confounding factors.

Participant Demographics

Women aged 26-79, with cases and controls matched by age.

Statistical Information

P-Value

0.001

Confidence Interval

95% CI = 1.6-3.2

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

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