Education and Breast Cancer Risk in Danish Twins
Author Information
Author(s): Madsen M, Andersen P K, Gerster M, Nybo Andersen A-M, Christensen K, Osler M
Primary Institution: University of Southern Denmark
Hypothesis
Does the association of education with breast cancer replicate within twin pairs?
Conclusion
The study found that education has an effect on breast cancer risk beyond shared familial factors.
Supporting Evidence
- An educational gradient in breast cancer risk was found in the unpaired analysis.
- Similar results were seen in the intrapair analyses, although not statistically significant.
- The effect of education was attenuated in monozygotic twins.
Takeaway
This study looked at twins to see if education affects breast cancer risk, and it found that education matters even when family background is similar.
Methodology
Data from the Danish Twin Registry and Cancer Registry were analyzed using Cox regression for both unpaired and intrapair analyses.
Potential Biases
Potential selection bias as twins discordant on education may not represent the broader twin population.
Limitations
The study's findings in monozygotic twins may be limited due to a small number of events.
Participant Demographics
The study included 16,310 female twins born between 1921 and 1974.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Confidence Interval
95% CI=1.15–1.67
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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