Breast Cancer Risk and Body Size in Women from South India
Author Information
Author(s): Mathew A, Gajalakshmi V, Rajan B, Kanimozhi V, Brennan P, Mathew B S, Boffetta P
Primary Institution: Regional Cancer Center, Trivandrum, India
Hypothesis
Increased anthropometric factors are risk factors for breast cancer in India.
Conclusion
The study found that urban women had higher obesity rates and larger body sizes, which are associated with increased breast cancer risk.
Supporting Evidence
- Urban women had a higher prevalence of obesity compared to rural women.
- Body size at age 10 was larger in urban women.
- Odds ratios indicated increased breast cancer risk associated with higher waist and hip sizes.
Takeaway
This study shows that women in cities are more likely to be overweight, which can lead to a higher chance of getting breast cancer compared to women in the countryside.
Methodology
A case-control study was conducted with 1866 breast cancer cases and 1873 controls, measuring various anthropometric factors and using logistic regression for analysis.
Potential Biases
Potential recall bias and measurement error could affect the results.
Limitations
The study is hospital-based, which may not fully represent the general population, and there may be biases in recalling exposures.
Participant Demographics
Participants included urban and rural women from South India, with a significant proportion being pre-menopausal and post-menopausal.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Confidence Interval
95% CI: various
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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