title: Potential breast cancer risk factors among Saudi women aged 19-50 years in Jeddah: a case-control study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The Saudi cancer registry reported in 2009 that the frequency of breast cancer is the highest among all types of cancer among Saudi women aged 30-59 years. The Makkah region had the second highest frequency of reported breast cancer cases, with patients having a median age of 46 years. The objectives of this study were to explore the distribution of selected known and hypothetically claimed breast cancer risk factors among Saudi women aged 19-50 years and describe the association of breast cancer with selected risk factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  An unmatched case-control study was conducted on breast cancer cases at three different hospitals in Jeddah.
  
  
  METHODS
  Online OpenEpi was used and the method of Kelsey and colleagues was selected from OpenEpi output; the calculated number of cases and controls was 134 each. Women aged 19-50 years were included and the analysis was conducted on 151 cases and 166 controls as they met the age inclusion criteria.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of patients was 40 years. A subgroup analysis for age at menarche less than 12 years showed an odds ratio (OR) of 1.4 6 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.88-2.44]. A high proportion of cases reported the use of exogenous estrogen and progesterone (OR=4.7, 95% CI 1.7-13.0), previous mammography screening (89% of cases vs. 11% of controls), and affected family members (4.6 vs. 1.8, OR=2.64 [95% CI 0.67-10.4]. The OR for exercise frequency in the study group was 1.45 (95% CI 0.90-2.35). The OR for breastfeeding among mothers who breast-fed for more than 12 months was 0.56 (95% CI 0.35-0.88).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study provides information on associative factors such as early age at menarche (<12 years), monthly income of at least 20 000 SR (5333 USD), use of exogenous estrogen and progesterone, previous biopsies/surgeries, previous clinical breast examination and mammography screening, and affected family members. Protective factors among premenopausal women, such as breastfeeding and exercising, have been described. Conducting comprehensive sessions on breastfeeding and physical education targeting young generations is highly recommended in order to reduce the risk for breast cancer among Saudi women aged 19-50 years.
authors.affiliation: aCommunity Medicine, Saudi Society for Public Health bResearch Department, Saudi Epidemiology Association cKing Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center dDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sheikh Mohammed Hussein Al-Amoudi Center of Excellence in Breast Cancer, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Sulafa T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Al-Qutub
authors.forename: Rajaa M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Al-Raddadi
authors.forename: Bakr M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Bin Sadiq
authors.forename: Wafa
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Sait
authors.forename: Aboelkhair
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al-Gahmi
authors.forename: Samia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Al-Amoudi
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography; D012307:Risk Factors; D012529:Saudi Arabia