Cardiovascular risk factors and breast cancer incidence in a large middle-aged cohort study

Abstract

Background Several studies have demonstrated that cardiovascular risk factors play a role in the etiology of breast cancer. However, the combined effect of cardiovascular risk factors on the risk of breast cancer is still uncertain. Methods Data from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study, a prospective cohort of middle-aged women, were used to investigate the association of individual and combined cardiovascular risk factors with breast cancer. Cox proportional hazards models were applied to calculate the hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results A total of 7501 women were included. During a mean follow-up of 19.7 years, 576 women were diagnosed with breast cancer. White women and premenopausal status were independently associated with increased risk of breast cancer. Of the individual cardiovascular risk factors, only obesity was independently associated with an increased risk of breast cancer (HR 1.29, 95% CI 1.04–1.61). Compared with women without cardiovascular risk factors, women having three or greater, but not those with fewer than three cardiovascular risk factors, had a significantly higher risk of developing breast cancer (HR 1.27, 95% CI 1.06–1.53). Subgroup analyses indicated that women with three or greater cardiovascular risk factors had higher risk of breast cancer among postmenopausal Black women, but not among premenopausal Black and White women. Conclusions Combinations of cardiovascular risk factors are associated with increased risk of breast cancer in middle-aged women, especially in postmenopausal Black women. Joint interventions to modify cardiovascular risk factors could be used to prevent breast cancer in these higher-risk individuals.

Effects of five types of exercise on vascular function in postmenopausal women: a network meta-analysis and systematic review of 32 randomized controlled trials

“…Cardiovascular disease (CVD) which includes high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, heart attack, and stroke, is more prevalent among middle-aged and older adult individuals ( Wu et al, 2023 ). As people age, their organs, systems, and cells gradually deteriorate ( Zeng et al, 2022 ), which is particularly evident in the cardiovascular system. The aging process primarily results in myocardial remodeling ( Rose & Howlett, 2024 ), declining cardiac function ( Ali et al, 2020 ), reduced functional reserves of the heart and blood vessels ( Zhang et al, 2024 ), arteriosclerosis ( Shikimoto et al, 2024 ), and increased endothelial damage ( Li, 2019 ).…”

Nanomedicine for Diagnosis and Treatment of Atherosclerosis

“…[ 4 ] The common risk factors include hyperlipidemia, hypertension, smoking, diabetes, etc. [ 5 ] Atherosclerosis is characterized by high incidence, disability as well as mortality rates at present, and changes in modern diet and exercise habits have given the disease a trend of getting younger. Therefore, early detection, diagnosis, and treatment should be the primary focus.…”