title: Factors associated with breast cancer in Puerto Rican women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer afflicting Puerto Rican women and accounts for more cancer-related deaths in this population than any other cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Demographic, anthropometric, family history, and lifestyle data, as well as DNA repair capacity (DRC), were compared in 465 BC cases and 661 controls. Crude and multiple logistic regression-derived adjusted odds ratios were used as indicators of the associations between BC and the variables under study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A low DRC level, aging (>61years), family history of BC, and low education level had statistically significant associations with increased BC risk. Endometriosis, full-term pregnancy at an earlier age, higher parity, hysterectomy before age 50, multivitamin and calcium intake, and longer duration of breastfeeding significantly decreased BC risk.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study discusses the major risk factors for BC in Puerto Rico (PR). Because many of these findings represent modifiable risk factors, they can translate into public health initiatives to lower BC risk. In addition, the possibility of using DRC as a simple screening tool for BC risk is explored.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Ponce School of Medicine and Health Sciences, P.O. Box 7004-388, Ponce 00732-7004, Puerto Rico; Public Health Program, Ponce School of Medicine and Health Sciences, P.O. Box 7004-388, Ponce 00732-7004, Puerto Rico. Electronic address: lmorales@psm.edu.
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Morales
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Alvarez-Garriga
authors.forename: Jaime
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Matta
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ortiz
authors.forename: Yeidyly
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Vergne
authors.forename: Wanda
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Vargas
authors.forename: Heidi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Acosta
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ramírez
authors.forename: Julyann
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Perez-Mayoral
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bayona
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004260:DNA Repair / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011247:Pregnancy; D011647:Puerto Rico / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
keywords: BC; BMI; Breast cancer; DNA repair capacity; DRC; Epidemiology; IRB; Institutional Review Board; MHT; OR; PR; Protective factors; Puerto Rico; Receptor status; Risk factors; body mass index; breast cancer; menopause hormone therapy; odds ratio