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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Melissa Christensen1, Ray M. Merrill, PhD, MPH2, Joseph Lynn Lyon, MD, MPH1, and Joseph B. Stanford, MD, MSPH1. (1) Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of Utah, 375 Chipeta Way, Suite A, Salt Lake City, UT 84108, (801) 587-3320, mchristensen@dfpm.utah.edu, (2) Department of Health Science, Brigham Young University, 213 Richards Building, Provo, UT 84602
Breast cancer is the leading cancer diagnosis and second leading cause of cancer mortality in the United States. Among states, Utah exhibits comparatively low breast cancer incidence and mortality rates. During 1994-1998, SEER (Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results) reported Utah as having the lowest age-adjusted incidence rate (97.8 per 10^5 py) and second lowest mortality rate (20.6 per 10^5py) among its eleven US registries.
Utah’s low rates likely reflect lifestyle choices within the population. 70% of the population belongs to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS). A marked difference exists between breast cancer rates in LDS and non-LDS women. When broken down by religious status, non-LDS breast cancer rates approach national levels; LDS rates drop further below state rates. LDS teachings emphasizing families and proscribing alcohol consumption may explain this difference as they influence major breast cancer risk factors such as parity, breast feeding practices, use of oral contraceptives, age at first birth, and alcohol use.
Through literature review, known breast cancer risk factors and associated relative risks have been identified. A 38-item statewide telephone survey based on this review will determine risk factor prevalence and religious status among 1000 Utah women. Pegus Research, a local surveying firm, will conduct the survey via random digit dialing. Previously unquantified prevalence differences between LDS and non-LDS will be identified. Prevalences and relative risks may be combined to compute etiologic fractions (proportion of disease burden due to specific risk factors) which will improve understanding of the forces reducing breast cancer burdens in Utah.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Breast Cancer,
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.