Environment and Breast Cancer: Science Review
About
Adult height and risk of breast cancer: a possible effect of early nutrition
Nilsen, T. I., Vatten, L. J. British Journal of Cancer. 2001. 85:7, 959-61.
Topic area
Body size
Body size
Study design
Prospective cohort
Prospective cohort
Funding agency
Not reported
Not reported
Study Participants
Number of Cases
215 cases
215 cases
Menopausal Status
Post menopausal
The menopausal status of women included in this study is listed here.
Pre menopausalPost menopausal
Number in Cohort
Cohort: 25,204
Cohort: 25,204
Cohort participation rate
Not Reported, follow up through registry presumed
Not Reported, follow up through registry presumed
Participant selection: Inclusion and exclusion criteria
Criteria used to select participants in the study.
In: Participants of the Nord-Trondelag Health Survey; resident of Nord-Trondelag and 20 years or older at baseline
Comment about participation selection
Strengths: The study observed 276,239 person years and anthropometric measurements were recorded by trained health examiners Limitations: No information recorded on age at menarche, age at first full term pregnancy and parity, few cases (215), did not discuss any exclusion factors, and study only looked at one exposure
Strengths: The study observed 276,239 person years and anthropometric measurements were recorded by trained health examiners Limitations: No information recorded on age at menarche, age at first full term pregnancy and parity, few cases (215), did not discuss any exclusion factors, and study only looked at one exposure
Exposure Investigated
Exposures investigated
Height
Height
How exposure was measured
Questionnaire, self-administered Anthropometric measurement, researcher-administered
Questionnaire, self-administered Anthropometric measurement, researcher-administered
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, BMI, smoking habits, and physical activity
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: birth cohort Follow up: 11 years (median)
Effect modifiers: birth cohort Follow up: 11 years (median)
Strength of associations reported
Women born during world war II (1940-1945), >167cm vs <162cm, RR=2.5 (1.2-5.5) based on 43 cases in that birth cohort
Women born during world war II (1940-1945), >167cm vs <162cm, RR=2.5 (1.2-5.5) based on 43 cases in that birth cohort
Results Comments
No associations with height observed in other birth cohorts
No associations with height observed in other birth cohorts
Author address
Department of Community Medicine and General Practice, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, University Medical Centre, N-7489 Trondheim, Norway.
Department of Community Medicine and General Practice, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, University Medical Centre, N-7489 Trondheim, Norway.