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Population attributable risks for modifiable lifestyle factors and breast cancer in N ew Z ealand women
Author(s) -
Hayes J.,
Richardson A.,
Frampton C.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
internal medicine journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.596
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1445-5994
pISSN - 1444-0903
DOI - 10.1111/imj.12256
Subject(s) - medicine , breast cancer , obesity , attributable risk , population , risk factor , odds ratio , hormone replacement therapy (female to male) , epidemiology , incidence (geometry) , cancer , gynecology , risk factors for breast cancer , environmental health , demography , testosterone (patch) , physics , sociology , optics
Background Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed invasive cancer in New Zealand women and modifiable lifestyle risk factors may contribute to this. Aim To estimate population attributable risks for modifiable lifestyle factors and breast cancer in N ew Z ealand. Methods Estimates of the magnitude of the impact of modifiable lifestyle risk factors for breast cancer (relative risks and odds ratios obtained from published epidemiological studies) and the prevalence of exposure in N ew Z ealand were used to calculate the population attributable risk percent ( PAR %) for each risk factor. The PAR % show the relative importance of these considered risk factors and give an indication of the potential impact of reducing the prevalence of these lifestyle risk factors on the incidence of breast cancer in N ew Z ealand. Results Six modifiable lifestyle factors were identified for breast cancer. These were obesity, lack of physical activity, high alcohol intake, oral contraceptive use, hormone replacement therapy ( HRT ) and delayed first birth. The PAR % for these risk factors ranged from 1% for delayed first birth to 10% for obesity (16% for M aori women and 17% for P acific women). Conclusions The most important primary preventive strategies to reduce the risk of breast cancer in N ew Z ealand are lifestyle changes to reduce obesity, promoting regular physical activity (which may in turn reduce the prevalence of obesity), reducing HRT use and avoiding high alcohol intake. Strategies that encourage regular physical activity and reduce obesity could also have other benefits, such as reduced risks of cardiovascular disease and diabetes.