Environment and Breast Cancer: Science Review

Body size and risk of pre- and post-menopausal breast cancer in Taiwan
Chie, W. C., Chen, C. F., Lee, W. C., Chen, C. J. Anticancer Research. 1996. 16:5B, 3129-32.

Topic area
Body size
Body size
Study design
Population based case-control
Population based case-control
Funding agency
Other: Department of Health (China)
Other: Department of Health (China)

Study Participants
Number of Cases
122
122
Menopausal Status
Post menopausal
The menopausal status of women included in this study is listed here.
Pre menopausalPost menopausal
Number of Controls
Control: 122
Control: 122
Participant selection: Inclusion and exclusion criteria
Criteria used to select participants in the study.
In: women diagnosed with breast cancer in Taipei City between 4/84 and 6/85 (cases); women who were matched with cases by residential area and age within 5 years
Ex: women with a prior breast cancer history
Comment about participation selection
Strengths: analyzed the association between breast cancer risk in Taiwan by height, weight and BMI; cases were pathologically confirmed; conducted home-visit interviews; population based study Limitations: problems with multivariate analysis due to too few cases; results unstable; does not report participation rate or how controls were obtained; used self reported anthropometric data; did not obtain anthropometric data from all participants
Strengths: analyzed the association between breast cancer risk in Taiwan by height, weight and BMI; cases were pathologically confirmed; conducted home-visit interviews; population based study Limitations: problems with multivariate analysis due to too few cases; results unstable; does not report participation rate or how controls were obtained; used self reported anthropometric data; did not obtain anthropometric data from all participants

Exposure Investigated
Exposures investigated
Height, weight and BMI
Height, weight and BMI
How exposure was measured
Questionnaire, in person
Questionnaire, in person
Exposure assessment comment
Used self reported anthropometric data
Used self reported anthropometric data

Statistical Analysis
Breast cancer outcome investigated
Primary breast cancer
Primary breast cancer
Ethnic groups with separate analysis
If this study provided a separate analysis by ethnic or racial group, the groups are listed here.
No
Confounders considered
Other breast cancer risk factors, such as family history, age at first birth, and hormone replacement therapy use, that were taken into account in the study.
Adequately controlled, confounders: age, education, age at menarche and parity
Genetic characterization included
If the study analyzed relationships between environmental factors and inherited genetic variations, this field will be marked “Yes.” “No”, if not.
No
Description of major analysis
Effect modifiers: menopausal status
Effect modifiers: menopausal status
Strength of associations reported
Association between breast cancer risk and height, >160cm vs <150cm, OR=4.4(1.8-11.1) trend p=0.005
Association between postmenopausal breast cancer risk and height, >160cm vs <150cm, OR=11.0(2.0-59.4) trend p=0.01
Association between premenopausal breast cancer risk and height, >160cm vs <150cm, OR=3.8(0.7-20.4) trend p=0.2
Association between premenopausal breast cancer risk and weight, >60kg vs <49kg, OR=0.5(0.1-2.8) trend p=0.7
Association between postmenopausal breast cancer risk and weight, >60kg vs <49kg, OR=6.5(1.3-32.7) trend p=0.001
Association between breast cancer risk and height, >160cm vs <150cm, OR=4.4(1.8-11.1) trend p=0.005
Association between postmenopausal breast cancer risk and height, >160cm vs <150cm, OR=11.0(2.0-59.4) trend p=0.01
Association between premenopausal breast cancer risk and height, >160cm vs <150cm, OR=3.8(0.7-20.4) trend p=0.2
Association between premenopausal breast cancer risk and weight, >60kg vs <49kg, OR=0.5(0.1-2.8) trend p=0.7
Association between postmenopausal breast cancer risk and weight, >60kg vs <49kg, OR=6.5(1.3-32.7) trend p=0.001
Results Comments
No association between breast cancer risk and BMI.
No association between breast cancer risk and BMI.

Controls participation rate
Not reported
Not reported