title: Childhood factors associated with mammographic density in adult women.
abstract: Growth and development factors could contribute to the development of breast cancer associated with an increase in mammographic density. This study examines the influence of certain childhood-related, socio-demographic and anthropometric variables on mammographic density in adult woman. The study covered 3574 women aged 45-68 years, participating in breast cancer-screening programmes in seven Spanish cities. Based on a craniocaudal mammogram, blind, anonymous measurement of mammographic density was made by a single radiologist, using Boyd's semiquantitative scale. Data associated with the early stages of life were obtained from a direct survey. Ordinal logistic regression and generalised linear models were employed to estimate the association between mammographic density and the variables covered by the questionnaire. Screening programme was introduced as a random effects term. Age, number of children, body mass index (BMI) and other childhood-related variables were used as adjustment variables, and stratified by menopausal status. A total of 811 women (23%) presented mammographic density of over 50%, and 5% of densities exceeded 75%. Our results show a greater prevalence of high mammographic density in women with low prepubertal weight (OR: 1.18; 95% CI: 1.02-1.36); marked prepubertal height (OR: 1.25; 95% CI: 0.97-1.60) and advanced age of their mothers at their birth (>39 years: OR: 1.28; 95% CI: 1.03-1.60); and a lower prevalence of high mammographic density in women with higher prepubertal weight, low birth weight and earlier menarche. The influence of these early-life factors may be explained by greater exposure to hormones and growth factors during the development of the breast gland, when breast tissue would be particularly susceptible to proliferative and carcinogenic stimulus.
authors: Cancer and Environmental Epidemiology Unit, National Center for Epidemiology, Carlos III Institute of Health, Avda. Monforte de Lemos, 5, 28029 Madrid, Spain. vicarvajal@isciii.es
authors: Virginia
authors: V
authors: Lope
authors: Beatriz
authors: B
authors: Pérez-Gómez
authors: María Pilar
authors: MP
authors: Moreno
authors: Carmen
authors: C
authors: Vidal
authors: Dolores
authors: D
authors: Salas-Trejo
authors: Nieves
authors: N
authors: Ascunce
authors: Isabel González
authors: IG
authors: Román
authors: Carmen
authors: C
authors: Sánchez-Contador
authors: María Carmen
authors: MC
authors: Santamariña
authors: Jose Antonio Vázquez
authors: JA
authors: Carrete
authors: Francisca
authors: F
authors: Collado-García
authors: Carmen
authors: C
authors: Pedraz-Pingarrón
authors: María
authors: M
authors: Ederra
authors: Francisco
authors: F
authors: Ruiz-Perales
authors: Mercé
authors: M
authors: Peris
authors: Soledad
authors: S
authors: Abad
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Cabanes
authors: Marina
authors: M
authors: Pollán
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003720:Densitometry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors