ASPO Abstracts
Cardio-Metabolic Risk Factors and Breast Cancer among Nigerian Women
Category: Global Cancer Research
Conference Year: 2020
Abstract Body:
Purpose: Previous studies have documented inconsistent associations between obesity and
breast cancer risk among African-American women. Recent studies have focused on
characterizing obesity-associated cardio-metabolic traits, and to study breast cancer risk in
African women who may exhibit different risk profiles. The purpose of this study is to examine
the association between BMI, abdominal obesity and hypertension with breast cancer diagnosis
among Nigerian women.
Methods: Women with suspected breast cancer were enrolled at 4 Nigerian hospitals between
2015 and 2019, and age-matched to existing healthy controls. Detailed epidemiologic,
reproductive and anthropometric measures were recorded for cases at diagnosis and for
controls at recruitment. Cases with pathologically verified cancer diagnoses and age-matched
healthy controls were included in the current analysis. Descriptive statistics and conditional
logistic regression models adjusting for health behavior and reproductive factors were used to
evaluate the association of BMI, abdominal obesity, and hypertension on cancer diagnosis.
Secondary analyses stratified by menopausal status.
Results: Overall, 173 case-control pairs (n=346) were included. Cases were less likely to be
overweight (32% vs. 35%) or obese (19% vs. 30%) compared with controls, and more likely
(56% vs. 51%) to have high blood pressure at enrollment. In adjusted models, obesity was
associated with reduced odds of breast cancer (BMI≥30 vs. normal weight, AOR=0.50, 95%CI
0.25, 0.98), while high blood pressure was associated with a 24% increased odds of breast
cancer, although not statistically significant (AOR=1.24, 95% CI: 0.70, 2.21). Similar
associations were observed for obesity among pre/peri and post-menopausal women, however
high blood pressure was associated with reduced odds of breast cancer among pre/peri
menopausal women (AOR=0.86, 95% CI: 0.35, 2.12), and higher odds among post-
menopausal women (AOR=1.60, 95% CI: 0.67, 3.81).
Conclusion: In one of the few contemporary cohorts of well-characterized breast cancer
patients in Nigeria, high blood pressure was associated with increased odds of breast cancer
among post-menopausal women, while obesity appeared to be protective.
Keywords: obesity, breast cancer, cardio-metabolic, global health, disparities