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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Graciela Caire-Juvera, PhD¹, Leslie Arendell¹, Raysenia James¹, and Zhao Chen, PhD, MPH². (1) Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of Arizona College of Public Health, 1540 E. Drachman, PO Box 245203, Tucson, AZ 85724-5203, (520) 626-9621, gcaire@email.arizona.edu, (2) Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, PO Box 245203, 1540 E. Drachman St., Tucson, AZ 85724

The objective of this study was to investigate the cross-sectional relationships between body composition indices and mammographic density in women by menopausal status. The 238 participants were healthy Hispanic and non-Hispanic White women aged 41-50 (premenopausal) and 56-70 (postmenopausal) years. Mammographic density was assessed using a digitized computer-assisted method. Body composition was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Multivariate linear regression was used to describe the associations between factors of interest and percent breast density. Percent trunk fat (p<0.001), percent total fat mass (p<0.001), and percent total lean mass (p<0.001) were different between non-Hispanic and Hispanic women in the premenopausal but not in the postmenopausal group. Hispanic women had lower percent density (p<0.05) than non-Hispanic women among the premenopausal group although not in the postmenopausal group. Percent trunk fat (B=-1.16, p<0.05) was significantly and inversely associated with percent breast density after adjusting for weight and smoking among premenopausal women. When adjusting for weight, percent trunk fat (B=-1.16, p<0.0001), percent total fat mass (B=-1.39, p<0.0001), and percent total lean mass (B=1.43, p<0.0001) were independently associated with percent breast density in the postmenopausal group. Introducing age as covariate in the models did not change the associations between percent breast density and body composition factors. It is concluded that percent trunk fat and percent total fat and lean mass, are associated with breast density in postmenopausal women, while among premenopausal women only percent trunk fat is associated with breast density. None of these associations are modified by ethnic group.

Learning Objectives:

• At the conclusion of the session, the learner will be able to understand the relationships between body composition indices and mammographic density, and discuss the differences in the association between mammographic density and body composition that may be present among menopausal and ethnic groups.

Keywords: Breast Cancer, Epidemiology

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered