Association between stress and breast cancer in women: a meta-analysis.
The objective of the current meta-analysis was to verify the association between stressful life events and primary breast cancer incidence in women. A total of 618 studies from 1982-2007 were found in the PubMed, LILACS, and Cochrane Library databases. Methodological quality was evaluated according to the Downs & Black criteria. Eight studies were selected (six case-controls and two cohorts). The studies were grouped in three analyses, two of which based on the categories widowhood and divorce and the other based on self-rated intensity and frequency of stressful events. Relative risks were: widowhood 1.04 (95%CI: 0.75-1.44; p = 0.800); divorce 1.03 (95%: 0.72-1.48; p = 0.850); and intensity/frequency of stress 1.73 (95%CI: 0.98-3.05; p = 0.059). We conclude that stressful life events as a whole are not associated with risk of breast cancer in women. However, it is not possible to rule out high-intensity stress as a risk factor for breast cancer.
Santos
Míria Conceição Lavinas
MC
Faculdade de Farmácia, Odontologia e Enfermagem, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, Brasil.
Horta
Bernardo Lessa
BL
Amaral
João Joaquim Freitas do
JJ
Fernandes
Paula Frassinetti Castelo Branco Camurça
PF
Galvão
Cristina Maria
CM
Fernandes
Ana Fátima Carvalho
AF
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008016:Life Change Events; D017533:Marital Status; D012307:Risk Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications*