The Relationship of Metabolic Syndrome and its Components with Breast Density

Abstract

Background: Breast cancer is a major health problem in Iran with increasing incidence in the recent years. Breast density is one of the most important risk factors for developing breast cancer. Metabolic syndrome that is defined by the presence of multiple clinical and lab data findings has also been shown to be related with breast cancer.Methods: A sample of 246 cases who referred to Mahdiyeh hospital in Tehran were selected according to the inclusion criteria and a form was prepared including breast density in the screening mammogram done in our center and recent lab tests including FBS, HDL and TG. We also measured the waist circumference, height, weight and blood pressure of all subjects. Data analysis was done through SPSS23 and using fishers exact and ordinal regression tests.Results: The incidence of metabolic syndrome was 44% among the cases in this study. Mean age ± standard deviation (SD) was 48.08 ± 7.6 years. There was a significant association between lower breast densities and ages greater than 50 years (p = 0.0). There was no significant association between metabolic syndrome or its components and breast density among the patients above 50 years of age but in ages lower than 50 years, there was a significant association between increased breast density and lower abdominal circumference (p=0.017), lower triglyceride levels (p=0.02), higher HDL levels (p=0.018), lower FBS levels and lower frequency of metabolic syndrome.Conclusion: There was no significant association between metabolic syndrome or its components and mammographic breast density after adjustment for age and BMI.

Keywords

• mammographic breast density
• cardiometabolic syndrome
• breast cancer