Breast Cancer Risk in Former College Athletes
Author Information
Author(s): Wyshak G, Frisch R E
Primary Institution: Harvard School of Public Health
Hypothesis
Does physical activity during college years reduce the risk of breast cancer later in life?
Conclusion
Former college athletes have a significantly lower risk of breast cancer compared to non-athletes.
Supporting Evidence
- The response rate for former athletes was 86.6%, while for non-athletes it was 83.0%.
- Among women under 45, the odds ratio for breast cancer risk was 0.164.
- The study confirmed earlier findings regarding the protective effect of physical activity.
Takeaway
Playing sports in college can help protect women from getting breast cancer later on.
Methodology
Participants completed a detailed mailed questionnaire on their health history over 15 years.
Potential Biases
Self-reporting may lead to underreporting or overreporting of breast cancer cases.
Limitations
The study relies on self-reported data, which may introduce bias.
Participant Demographics
The study involved 5398 college alumnae, including former athletes and non-athletes.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.605
Confidence Interval
(0.438–0.835)
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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