Environment and Breast Cancer: Science Review
About
Cancer risk in Swedish women: the relation to size at birth
Andersson, S. W., Bengtsson, C., Hallberg, L., Lapidus, L., Niklasson, A., Wallgren, A., Hulthen, L. Br J Cancer. 2001. 84:9, 1193-8.
Topic area
Early life exposures
Early life exposures
Study design
Prospective cohort
Prospective cohort
Funding agency
Swedish Medical Research Council, Swedish Society
Swedish Medical Research Council, Swedish Society
Study Participants
Number of Cases
62 for birthweight, 43 for birth length
62 for birthweight, 43 for birth length
Number in Cohort
Cohort: Birthweight: 1080 ; birth length 872
Cohort: Birthweight: 1080 ; birth length 872
Cohort participation rate
More than 70%
More than 70%
Participant selection: Inclusion and exclusion criteria
Criteria used to select participants in the study.
In: women in the Study of Women in Goteborg born on selected dates in the years 1914, 1918, 1922 and 1930 residing in Goteborg, singleton birth and born in Sweden
Comment about participation selection
Analysis for several types of hormonal and non-hormonal cancers
Analysis for several types of hormonal and non-hormonal cancers
Exposure Investigated
Exposures investigated
Birthweight, birth length
Birthweight, birth length
How exposure was measured
Other: Midwives' records and questionnaire
Other: Midwives' records and questionnaire
Exposure assessment comment
Lack of information about accuracy of birthweight measure for home delivery from 1914 to 1930
Lack of information about accuracy of birthweight measure for home delivery from 1914 to 1930
Statistical Analysis
Breast cancer outcome investigated
Primary incident breast cancer
Primary incident 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.
BMI, race, menopausal status, alcohol consumption, family history of breast cancer
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
Cox proportional hazard model adjusted for cohort membership. Additional adjustment for maternal proteinuria, birth order, own parity, and age at menarche did not have a marked effect on birth weight estimate. Additional adjustment for age at menarche inc
Cox proportional hazard model adjusted for cohort membership. Additional adjustment for maternal proteinuria, birth order, own parity, and age at menarche did not have a marked effect on birth weight estimate. Additional adjustment for age at menarche inc
Strength of associations reported
Birthweight: 1.57 (0.67 - 3.64); birth length: 2.21 (0.88 - 5.53) (adjusted for age at menarche)
Birthweight: 1.57 (0.67 - 3.64); birth length: 2.21 (0.88 - 5.53) (adjusted for age at menarche)
Results Comments
High weight or length at birth was associated with a non-significant increase in risk for cancer in adulthood
High weight or length at birth was associated with a non-significant increase in risk for cancer in adulthood
Author address
Department of Clinical Nutrition, Goteborg University, SE 413 45 Goteborg, Sweden.
Department of Clinical Nutrition, Goteborg University, SE 413 45 Goteborg, Sweden.