Back to Annual Meeting

Back to Annual Meeting

APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Raysenia L. James¹, Leslie Arendell¹, Roberta Bruhn¹, Graciela Caire-Juvera, PhD¹, Skye Nicholas¹, 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, rjames@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

Background: Mammographic density (MD) is a strong predictor of breast cancer risk. Studies have shown an association between increased bone mineral density (BMD) and breast cancer risk in White postmenopausal women. This study examines the relationship between MD and BMD among non-Hispanic and Hispanic White women.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 238 pre and postmenopausal women ages 41-50 and 56-70 years were recruited in southern Arizona. MD was measured using a computer-assisted method at the University of Hawaii and BMD was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in Tucson. Height and weight were measured, and demographic and health information was collected using questionnaires.

Results: Logistic regression was used to determine the odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for the association between having a high mammographic density and BMD in tertiles (Hip, Spine, and Total Body) for each menopausal stratum. Table 1 shows the results for the crude, and age and ethnicity adjusted models for the Hip and Spine.

Conclusions: We see different trends in relationships between BMD and MD in pre and postmenopausal women. This relationship deserves further investigation since it may help in the understanding of the underlying mechanisms of breast cancer in different age groups.

Learning Objectives: