Risk factors for breast cancer in Pakistani women aged less than 45 years.
BACKGROUND
There has been an increase in the incidence of breast cancer in previously low-risk Asian countries. It is important to identify the risk factors for Asian women, as little information currently exists for this population.


OBJECTIVE
The objective of the study was to determine risk factors for breast cancer among Pakistani women.


METHODS
498 cases younger than 45 years were interviewed from 1 July 1997 to 31 December 1998 at two major cancer hospitals. Age-matched population-based controls were selected from two cities and two villages to represent urban and rural areas. For the variables under study, cases and controls were compared by t-test. Conditional multiple logistic regression models were applied to the data set.


RESULTS
Women with BMI >or= 30, with a family history of breast cancer and who were parous were at increased risk. Among parous women risk factors included BMI >or= 30, being in a consanguineous marriage, later age at menarche, later age at first full-term pregnancy, high parity and a history of abortion.


CONCLUSIONS
The risk factors identified for Pakistani women below 45 years were similar to those observed in other studies. However, obesity in pre-menopausal women and late menarche were not protective and consanguinity was identified as a risk.
Gilani
Ghausia Masood
GM
Institue of Statistics, University of the Punjab, Q.A. Campus, Lahore 54590, Pakistan. gilani_pu@yahoo.com
Kamal
Shahid
S
D000028:Abortion, Induced; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003241:Consanguinity; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008423:Maternal Age; D008572:Menarche; D010154:Pakistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D010298:Parity; D012307:Risk Factors