Environment and Breast Cancer: Science Review
About
Body fat distribution and obesity in pre- and postmenopausal breast cancer
Sonnenschein, E., Toniolo, P., Terry, M. B., Bruning, P. F., Kato, I., Koenig, K. L., Shore, R. E. International Journal of Epidemiology. 1999. 28:6, 1026-31.
Topic area
Body size
Body size
Study design
Prospective cohort
Prospective cohort
Funding agency
Not reported
Not reported
Study Participants
Number of Cases
Cases: 259 (109 premenopausal) (150 postmenopausal) (invasive and in situ)
Cases: 259 (109 premenopausal) (150 postmenopausal) (invasive and in situ)
Menopausal Status
Post menopausal
The menopausal status of women included in this study is listed here.
Pre menopausalPost menopausal
Number in Cohort
Cohort: 8,416
Cohort: 8,416
Participant selection: Inclusion and exclusion criteria
Criteria used to select participants in the study.
In: Women participating in the New York University Women's Health Study age 35-65 at baseline and attended a breast screening clinic in New York City from 3/85 through 6/91
Ex: Women with missing height, weight or other essential information
Comment about participation selection
Strengths: Large cohort study that analyzed 55,377 person years, and all anthropometric measurements were performed by a trained technician Limitations:Analysis based on 59% of original cohort
Strengths: Large cohort study that analyzed 55,377 person years, and all anthropometric measurements were performed by a trained technician Limitations:Analysis based on 59% of original cohort
Exposure Investigated
Exposures investigated
Height, Quetelet's index (kg/m^2) and W/H ratio
Height, Quetelet's index (kg/m^2) and W/H ratio
How exposure was measured
Questionnaire, self-administered Anthropometric measurement, researcher-administered performed by a trained technician
Questionnaire, self-administered Anthropometric measurement, researcher-administered performed by a trained technician
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, age at menarche, age at first full term pregnancy, history of breast biopsy, family history of breast cancer and W/H ratio
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 modification: menopausal status, Quetelet's index, WHR Follow up: 6.6 years (mean)
Effect modification: menopausal status, Quetelet's index, WHR Follow up: 6.6 years (mean)
Strength of associations reported
Association between premenopausal breast cancer risk and height, >170.1 cm vs. <161 cm, RR=0.96(0.55-1.66)
Association between postmenopausal breast cancer risk and height, >166 cm vs. <155 cm, RR=1.28(0.75-2.18)
Association between premenopausal breast cancer risk and Quetelet's index, >26.36 vs. <21.5, RR=0.81(0.45-1.45)
Association between postmenopausal breast cancer risk and Quetelet's index, >27.46 vs. <22.32, RR=2.40(1.42-4.08) trend p<0.001
Association between premenopausal breast cancer risk and WHR, >0.778 vs. <0.698, RR=1.86(1.01-3.45) trend p=0.02
Association between postmenopausal breast cancer risk and WHR, >0.817 vs. <0.73, RR=0.94(0.56-1.57)
Association between premenopausal breast cancer risk and height, >170.1 cm vs. <161 cm, RR=0.96(0.55-1.66)
Association between postmenopausal breast cancer risk and height, >166 cm vs. <155 cm, RR=1.28(0.75-2.18)
Association between premenopausal breast cancer risk and Quetelet's index, >26.36 vs. <21.5, RR=0.81(0.45-1.45)
Association between postmenopausal breast cancer risk and Quetelet's index, >27.46 vs. <22.32, RR=2.40(1.42-4.08) trend p<0.001
Association between premenopausal breast cancer risk and WHR, >0.778 vs. <0.698, RR=1.86(1.01-3.45) trend p=0.02
Association between postmenopausal breast cancer risk and WHR, >0.817 vs. <0.73, RR=0.94(0.56-1.57)
Author address
Nelson Institute of Environmental Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, NY, USA.
Nelson Institute of Environmental Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, NY, USA.