Selection of women at high risk of breast cancer using two lifestyle markers: A case control study

Abstract

Objective - To select a population of women with high risk of invasive breast cancer by using two markers of high risk lifestyle - age at first delivery >equals;=25 and dailyalcohol intake >equals;=7g. Design - Case control study based on a structural interview. Setting - Two general practices in Copenhagen, Denmark. Participants - 30 patients with invasive breast cancer and 30 age-matched controls. Main outcome measure - the combined selection power of the two markers of high risk lifestyle. Results - the combined selection power of the two markers was significant (P0.025, odds ratio 4.3, 95% CI 1.2-15.6). Conclusion - Using these markers it may be possible to select about 80% of all cases of invasive breast cancer in a high risk group comprising only 49% of the female population. This could be of importance for mammography screening; rather than unselectively screening all women in a given age bracket, it might be preferable selectively to screen only the high risk group. © 1995 Informa UK Ltd All rights reserved: reproduction in whole or part not permitted.