Hormonal and Body-Size Factors in Relation to Breast Cancer Risk: A Prospective Study of 11,889 Women in a Low-Incidence Area
Resource
ANNALS OF EPIDEMIOLOGY v.16 n.3 pp.223-229
Journal
ANNALS OF EPIDEMIOLOGY
Journal Volume
v.16
Journal Issue
n.3
Pages
223-229
Date Issued
2006
Date
2006
Author(s)
WU, MEI-HSUAN
CHOU, YU-CHING
YU, JYH- CHERNG
CHU, CHI-MING
HSIEH, CHANG-YAO
YOU, SAN-LIN
CHEN, CHIEN-JEN
SUN, CHIEN-AN
Abstract
PURPOSE: This prospective cohort study of 11,889 women was conducted to determine significant factors associated with the risk of breast cancer among Chinese women in Taiwan, a low-incidence area. METHODS: In-person interviews were completed for subjects to solicit information on hormonal factors. Measurements of height, weight, and waist-and-hip circumferences were performed by well-trained assistants using standardized techniques. Cox proportional hazards models were employed to estimate relative risks ( RRs) and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: During an average follow-up time of 10.3 years (range: 1 to 11 years) with an accumulation of 134,063 person-years, 104 incident breast cancer cases were identified through data linkage with national cancer registry profile. There was a significant elevation in breast-cancer risk with increasing duration of the interval between age at menarche and age at first full- term pregnancy (FFTP). Additionally, central adiposity reflected by hip circumference was a significant predictor of breast cancer in this Chinese female population. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study indicated common mechanisms responsible for the higher incidence of breast cancer in Western populations may also explain the risk of breast cancer development in Taiwan, a low-incidence area.
Subjects
body size
breast cancer
hormonal risk factors
prospective study
SDGs