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A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Women Attending a Free Screening Mammography Campaign at a University Hospital in
Tracy El Khoury1,2, Roy Ibrahim2, Pascale Salameh1,3,4,5
1Gilbert and Rose-Marie Chagoury School of Medicine, Lebanese American University, Byblos, Lebanon.
Background:
Breast cancer is the most common malignancy among Lebanese women; however, local data on demographic, reproductive, and hormonal factors associated with breast cancer history are scarce. This study aimed to assess the characteristics of Lebanese women attending a mammography screening campaign and identify factors associated with a personal history of breast cancer in this population.
Methods:
A cross-sectional study was conducted among 380 women attending a free mammography screening campaign at the Lebanese American University Medical Center-Rizk Hospital, Beirut, Lebanon. All women underwent 2D mammography and 3D digital breast tomosynthesis. Participants (enrolled between January 2022-April 2022) completed a questionnaire assessing demographics, medical history, reproductive factors, and lifestyle variables. Associations between personal history of breast cancer and categorical variables were assessed using Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests, while Mann-Whitney U-tests were used for continuous variables. Multivariable binary logistic regression was performed to identify independent correlates of personal history of breast cancer, with results reported as adjusted odds ratios (ORa) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). A two-tailed p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results:
The mean age was 54.5 ± 9.0 years. Thirteen women (3.4% [95% CI: 2.0%-5.7%]) had a previous personal history of breast cancer. BI-RADS 2D classifications were category 0 in 190 women (50.0%), category 1 in 7 (1.8%), category 2 in 177 (46.6%), category 3 in 2 (0.5%), and category 4 in 2 (0.5%) of women. BI-RADS 3D classifications showed category 0 in 76 women (20.0%), category 1 in 8 (2.1%), category 2 in 290 (76.3%), category 3 in 2 (0.5%), and category 4 in 2 (0.5%) of women. The use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) was significantly associated with breast cancer history (ORa 6.052-7.146, p = 0.010-0.031), remaining significant across adjusted models. Older age was significant in models excluding menopausal factors (ORa 1.075-1.111 per year), but attenuated when HRT was included. Family history, reproductive factors, lifestyle variables, and breast density showed no significant associations.
Conclusion:
HRT use and older age were significantly associated with breast cancer history in this Lebanese screening population. Higher-risk groups may benefit from complementary imaging techniques. Larger multicenter studies are warranted to confirm these findings and identify additional risk factors.
