The proportion of postmenopausal breast cancer cases in the Netherlands attributable to lifestyle-related risk factors

W. A. van Gemert*, C. I. Lanting, R. A. Goldbohm, P. A. van den Brandt, H. G. Grooters, E. Kampman, L. A. L. M. Kiemeney, F. E. van Leeuwen, E. M. Monninkhof, E. de Vries, P. H. Peeters, S. G. Elias

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

We aimed to estimate the proportion of Dutch postmenopausal breast cancer cases in 2010 that is attributable to lifestyle-related risk factors. We calculated population attributable fractions (PAFs) of potentially modifiable risk factors for postmenopausal breast cancer in Dutch women aged > 50 in 2010. First, age-specific PAFs were calculated for each risk factor, based on their relative risks for postmenopausal breast cancer (from meta-analyses) and age-specific prevalence in the population (from national surveys) around the year 2000, assuming a latency period of 10 years. To obtain the overall PAF, age-specific PAFs were summed in a weighted manner, using the age-specific breast cancer incidence rates (2010) as weights. 95 % confidence intervals for PAF estimates were derived by Monte Carlo simulations. Of Dutch women > 40 years, in 2000, 51 % were overweight/obese, 55 % physically inactive (<5 days/week 30 min activity), 75 % regularly consumed alcohol, 42 % ever smoked cigarettes and 79 % had a low-fibre intake (<3.4 g/1000 kJ/day). These factors combined had a PAF of 25.7 % (95 % CI 24.2-27.2), corresponding to 2,665 Dutch postmenopausal breast cancer cases in 2010. PAFs were 8.8 % (95 % CI 6.3-11.3) for overweight/obesity, 6.6 % (95 % CI 5.2-8.0) for alcohol consumption, 5.5 % (95 % CI 4.0-7.0) for physical inactivity, 4.6 % (95 % CI 3.3-6.0) for smoking and 3.2 % (95 % CI 1.6-4.8) for low-fibre intake. Our findings imply that modifiable risk factors are jointly responsible for approximately one out of four Dutch postmenopausal breast cancer cases. This suggests that incidence rates can be lowered substantially by living a more healthy lifestyle.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)155-162
Number of pages8
JournalBreast Cancer Research and Treatment
Volume152
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jul 2015

Keywords

  • Population attributable fraction
  • Lifestyle-related risk factors
  • Postmenopausal breast cancer
  • HORMONE-REPLACEMENT THERAPY
  • PHYSICAL-EXERCISE
  • HRT USE
  • WOMEN
  • UK
  • METAANALYSIS
  • OVERWEIGHT
  • EUROPE
  • COHORT
  • FIBER

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The proportion of postmenopausal breast cancer cases in the Netherlands attributable to lifestyle-related risk factors'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this