Environment and Breast Cancer: Science Review

A prospective study of adiposity and postmenopausal breast cancer risk: the Malmo Diet and Cancer Study
Lahmann, P. H., Lissner, L., Gullberg, B., Olsson, H., Berglund, G. International Journal of Cancer. 2003. 103:2, 246-52.

Topic area
Body size
Body size
Study design
Prospective cohort
Prospective cohort
Funding agency
Other: Swedish Cancer Society
Other: Swedish Cancer Society

Study Participants
Number of Cases
246
246
Menopausal Status
The menopausal status of women included in this study is listed here.
Post menopausal
Number in Cohort
Cohort: 12,159
Cohort: 12,159
Cohort participation rate
Retention/participation exceeded 70% for exposed a
Retention/participation exceeded 70% for exposed a
Participant selection: Inclusion and exclusion criteria
Criteria used to select participants in the study.
In: Resident of Malmo in the Malmo Diet and Cancer Study (EPIC cohort), Sweden at baseline, women 50-73 yrs at baseline
Ex: prior clinically confirmed prevalent cancer cases
Comment about participation selection
Strengths: Body measurements were taken directly, large cohort Limitations: Limited duration of follow up, few cases, age based definition on menopause was used (50)
Strengths: Body measurements were taken directly, large cohort Limitations: Limited duration of follow up, few cases, age based definition on menopause was used (50)

Exposure Investigated
Exposures investigated
Weight, Height, BMI, %BF (from BIA), W/H ratio, Waist Circumference, Weight Change
Weight, Height, BMI, %BF (from BIA), W/H ratio, Waist Circumference, Weight Change
How exposure was measured
Questionnaire, in person
Questionnaire, in person
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, height, smoking, alcohol consumption, occupation, marital status, parity, age at first pregnancy, age at menarche, and current hormone use.
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
Follow up 5.7 yrs
Follow up 5.7 yrs
Strength of associations reported
Association between postmenopausal breast cancer risk and weight, >77kg vs. <59 kg, RR=1.53(0.97-2.41) trend p=0.014
Association between postmenopausal breast cancer risk and height, >169 cm vs. <159 cm, RR=1.41(0.92-2.17) trend p=0.009
Association between postmenopausal breast cancer risk and BMI, >28.5 vs. <22.0, RR=1.54(1.01-2.35) trend p=0.023
Association between postmenopausal breast cancer risk and %BF (from BIA), >36 vs. <27, RR=2.01(1.26-3.21) trend p=0.010
Association between postmenopausal breast cancer risk and WHR, >0.837 vs. <0.750, RR=1.23(0.79-1.92) trend p=0.252
Association between postmenopausal breast cancer risk and waist circumference, >86.0 cm vs. <70.0 cm, RR=1.14(0.62-2.12) trend p=0.881
Association between postmenopausal breast cancer risk and weight change, >21.0 kg vs. <5.0 kg, RR=1.75(1.11-2.77) trend p=0.028
Association between postmenopausal breast cancer risk and weight, >77kg vs. <59 kg, RR=1.53(0.97-2.41) trend p=0.014
Association between postmenopausal breast cancer risk and height, >169 cm vs. <159 cm, RR=1.41(0.92-2.17) trend p=0.009
Association between postmenopausal breast cancer risk and BMI, >28.5 vs. <22.0, RR=1.54(1.01-2.35) trend p=0.023
Association between postmenopausal breast cancer risk and %BF (from BIA), >36 vs. <27, RR=2.01(1.26-3.21) trend p=0.010
Association between postmenopausal breast cancer risk and WHR, >0.837 vs. <0.750, RR=1.23(0.79-1.92) trend p=0.252
Association between postmenopausal breast cancer risk and waist circumference, >86.0 cm vs. <70.0 cm, RR=1.14(0.62-2.12) trend p=0.881
Association between postmenopausal breast cancer risk and weight change, >21.0 kg vs. <5.0 kg, RR=1.75(1.11-2.77) trend p=0.028

Author address
Department of Medicine, Lund University, Malmo University Hospital, Malmo, Sweden. lahmann@mail.dife.de
Department of Medicine, Lund University, Malmo University Hospital, Malmo, Sweden. lahmann@mail.dife.de