Patterns of regular use of mammography--body weight and ethnicity: the Multiethnic Cohort

To describe the association between body mass index (BMI) and frequency of regular mammography over an approximate 6-year period after controlling for the influence of demographic factors, behavioral factors, and medical history. This association was examined overall and by race/ethnicity in a multiethnic cohort of women including African American, Japanese American, Hispanic, Native Hawaiian, and non-Hispanic White women.

Analysis of 81,722 women from the Hawaii and Los Angeles Multiethnic Cohort (MEC) using unconditional logistic regression to obtain odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association between BMI and regular annual or biennial (every 1-2 years) mammography overall and by race/ethnicity.

Overall, 36% of MEC women reported regular annual mammography over an approximate 6-year period of follow-up. African American, Hispanic, and Native Hawaiian women had significantly lower annual and biennial mammography use compared to White women even after controlling for age, education, family history, BMI, menopausal status, and hormone therapy. Women who were overweight (OR = 0.96; 95% CI 0.92-1.01) or obese (OR = 0.88; 95% CI 0.84-0.93) were less likely to have regular annual mammography compared to women of normal weight. Similar findings were noted among women who had mammograms every 1-2 years (biennial).

BMI is associated with the frequency of regular annual and biennial mammography in multiethnic women, especially among women who are overweight and obese.

Culturally sensitive educational strategies that promote healthy behaviors toward regular mammography and maintenance of normal BMI are warranted.