A CASE-CONTROL STUDY OF CARCINOMA BREAST AMONG WOMEN : AN EPIDEMIOLOGICAL RISK FACTOR STUDY

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Epidemiology
• Public Health

Background:

• Breast cancer is a significant global health concern, necessitating identification of modifiable risk factors.
• Understanding epidemiological factors is crucial for targeted prevention strategies and early detection of breast cancer.
• Hospital-based studies provide valuable insights into localized risk profiles and contributing factors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between various lifestyle and anthropometric factors and the risk of developing breast cancer.
• To identify specific risk indicators for breast cancer in a hospital-based population.
• To inform public health initiatives and clinical risk assessments for breast cancer.

Main Methods:

• A hospital-based case-control study design was employed.
• Ninety-six female breast cancer cases were matched with an equal number of controls.
• Data collected included age at menarche, age at first birth, family history, body weight, and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR).

Main Results:

• Early menarche (before 12 years) showed a significant association with increased breast cancer risk (p < 0.01).
• A positive family history of breast cancer in first-degree relatives was linked to a higher risk (p < 0.05).
• Higher body weight (>55 kg) and elevated waist-to-hip ratio (>0.86) were significantly associated with increased breast cancer risk (p < 0.01).

Conclusions:

• Early menarche, family history, higher body weight, and increased WHR are significant risk factors for breast cancer.
• Age at menopause and age at first birth were not found to be significantly associated with breast cancer risk in this study.
• These findings highlight the importance of anthropometric measurements and reproductive history in assessing breast cancer risk.