Association between metabolic syndrome and breast cancer in postmenopausal women: A single-center observational study

Abstract

Introduction: The most critical risk factor for developing metabolic syndrome (MS) is obesity, a pro-inflammatory state with systemic and local alterations linked to tumor growth. It is a determinant in developing postmenopausal breast cancer in its prognosis. and the efficacy of treatment. This study aimed to determine the association between MS and Breast Cancer in postmenopausal women compared to a control group.

Materials and methods: The study had an observational, analytical design at the SOLCA-Guayaquil Hospital between January and December 2019. The sampling was non-probabilistic. Cases of women between 50 and 70 years of age with breast pathology were included. The variables were the presence of metabolic syndrome and diagnosis of breast cancer in postmenopausal women. Chi-square, Odds Ratio, 95% confidence interval, and P value < 0.05 were used to review statistical significance.

Results: 157 cases entered the study, 107 in the group with breast cancer (G1) and 50 women (31%) without malignancy (G2). The age in G1 was 59.9±9.9 years in G2 55.5±5.5 (P=0.001). The body mass index was 29.05±1.2 in G1 and 26.80±1.3 in G2 (P<0.001). OR of the MS for the development of breast cancer was 4.60 (95% CI 2.23-9.51) P<0.0001. OR of the MS for the development of breast cancer in women under 54 years of age was 0.22 (0.069-0.72), P=0.0118. There were no associations by histological type.

Conclusion: There is an association between MS and breast cancer in postmenopausal women, so metabolic health should be considered a clinically relevant and modifiable risk factor for cancer development.