Why Is Advanced Breast Cancer More Common in Overweight and Obese Women?

Excess risk was not explained by differences in mammography screening frequency and accuracy.

Overweight postmenopausal women (particularly those who do not use hormone therapy) have excess risk for breast cancer, but whether differences in utilization or accuracy of mammography are responsible is unclear. Investigators pooled mammography registry data (614,562 mammograms; 96% screening) from 287,115 postmenopausal women (mean age, 64) who were not currently using HT and who had no histories of breast cancer. Rates of overweight (BMI, 25.0–29.9 kg/m²), obese class I (BMI, 30.0–34.9), and obese class II/III (BMI, ≥35.0) status were highest in women aged 60 to 69 and in black, Native American, and Native Alaskan women.

Higher BMI was associated with less-frequent mammography; moreover, adjusted rate per 1000 mammograms for breast cance…

Reviewing Author

Andrew M. Kaunitz, MD

Disclosures

RoyaltiesUpToDate

Grant/Research SupportMerck, Mithra, Medicines360

Editorial BoardsContraception; Menopause; Contraceptive Technology Update; OBG Management; Medscape OB/GYN & Women’s Health

Andrew M. Kaunitz, MD

Disclosures

RoyaltiesUpToDate

Grant/Research SupportMerck, Mithra, Medicines360

Editorial BoardsContraception; Menopause; Contraceptive Technology Update; OBG Management; Medscape OB/GYN & Women’s Health

Why Is Advanced Breast Cancer More Common in Overweight and Obese Women?

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Reviewing Author