Height, weight, and body mass index association with breast cancer risk in Iraqi Kurdish women

Abstract

Background: To our knowledge, there is no international publication on association of body mass index (BMI) and breast cancer in the Iraqi Kurdish women. The aims of this study are to identify the correlation of height, weight, and BMI with breast cancer, as well as, the relationship of BMI with pre- and postmenopausal women with breast cancer among Iraqi Kurds.

Materials and methods: This retrospective case-control study was performed in Sulaimanyah governorate (North of Iraq). Data were collected on socio-demographic characteristics, anthropometric measures and menopausal status of (454) patients with breast cancer who were seeking medical attention in Hewa Hematology and Oncology Hospital with collection of same information on (430) age-matched controls.

Results: There were 454 cases of breast cancer, the mean value of height was 161 ± 6.2 cm compared to controls 159.3 ± 5.1 cm (p < .001), mean weight 68.9 ± 11.8 kg compared to controls 62.1 ± 9.1 kg (p < .001), mean BMI 26.6 ± 4.5 kg/m² compared to controls 24.5 ± 3.8 kg/m² (p < .001). There was a significant statistical difference between the height of patients and controls in both pre-and postmenopausal Kurdish women. The odds ratios for breast cancer development in premenopausal women with BMI (23-24.9, 25-29.9, and 30 kg/m²) were (1.4, 1.8, 2.1) (p < .001), respectively. The odds ratios for breast cancer development in postmenopausal women for same BMI categories were (1.7, 3.2, 4.0) (p < .001), respectively.

Conclusions: Among Iraqi Kurdish women, height, weight, and BMI are associated with increased risk of breast cancer. There is a positive association between BMI and breast cancer risk for both pre- and postmenopausal women, but the association is stronger among postmenopausal women.