Reproductive Factors Associated with the Risk of Breast Cancer among Malaysian Women: A Multi-Centre Case-Control Study
Adamu Ahmad Rufa’i *
School of Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Health Campus, Kubang Kerian 16150, Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia and Department of Physiotherapy, College of Medical Sciences, University of Maiduguri, 1069, Borno, Nigeria
Siew Hwa Yen
Centre for Distance Education, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Pulau Pinang 11800, Pinang, Malaysia
Wan Abdul Manan Wan Muda
School of Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Health Campus, Kubang Kerian 16150, Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia
Venkata Murali Krishna Bhavaraju
Department of Oncology, Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia, Health Campus, Kubang Kerian 16150, Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia
Aishah Knight Abd Shatar
Advanced Medical and Dental Institute, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Bertam 13200, Kepala Batas, Penang, Malaysia
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aim: This study was conducted to evaluate the association between reproductive factors and the risk of breast cancer among Malaysian women.
Study Design: Case-control study.
Place and Duration of Study: Oncology clinics of 6 selected hospitals from 3 states of Kedah, Kelantan and Penang, between June 2013 and May 2015.
Methodology: We included 334 histologically confirmed breast cancer women and 345 population-based controls matched by age (within 5-year brackets) and ethnicity. Demographic and reproductive data were collected by in-person interviews using a self-administered questionnaire. Multiple logistic regression model was used to estimate multivariate-adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) from logistic regression analyses.
Results: The mean age of the cases was 51.95 (± 8.35) years while controls had 52.30 (± 9.14) years. The results showed that menopausal status was associated with the risk of breast cancer with [OR 0.36, 95%CI 0.20-0.62] for pre-menopause, and duration of use of contraceptives [OR 0.49, 95%CI 0.26-0.95] for 1-5 years and OR 0.22, 95% CI 0.10-0.53 for >5 years duration of usage. Also family history was found to be strongly associated with the risk [OR 2.86, 95%CI 1.55-5.26].
Conclusion: This study portrays the need for early screening among Malaysian women with identified risk factors in order to help in the timely detection of breast cancer and appropriate management.
Keywords: Reproductive factors, breast cancer, risk factors, case-control studies