Reproductive factors associated with breast cancer risk may also affect the prognosis. This study aimed to evaluate the associations of multiple reproductive factors with breast cancer prognosis and the modifying effects of menopausal status. We obtained data from 3805 breast cancer patients recruited between October 2008 and June 2016 in Guangzhou. The subjects were followed up until 30 June 2018. The hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated using multivariate Cox models to estimate the associations. It was found that there were U‐shaped patterns for the associations of age at first birth and durations from first/last birth to diagnosis with breast cancer prognosis. The adverse effects of old age at first birth [>30 years vs 23‐30 years, HR (95% CI): 1.59 (1.01‐2.50)] and long intervals from first [≥20 years vs 10‐19 years, HR (95% CI): 1.55 (1.07‐2.27)] or last [≥20 years vs 10‐19 years, HR (95% CI): 1.63 (1.08‐2.46)] birth to diagnosis on progression‐free survival (PFS) were significantly more pronounced among premenopausal women. Additionally, long interval (>5 years) between first and second birth was associated with a better PFS [HR (95% CI): 0.64 (0.42‐0.97)]. These results suggested that age at first birth, durations from first/last birth to diagnosis, and intervals between first and second birth should be taken into account when following the patients and assessing the prognosis of breast cancer, particularly for premenopausal patients. These findings would also have implications for further insight into the mechanisms of breast cancer development.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.