Cigarette Smoking and Breast Cancer Risk in Hispanic and Non-Hispanic White Women: The Breast Cancer Health Disparities Study

J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2016 Mar;25(3):299-310. doi: 10.1089/jwh.2015.5502. Epub 2015 Dec 18.

Abstract

Objective: Few epidemiological studies have included Hispanics with the evaluation of the effects of cigarette smoking and breast cancer. We examined the relationship between cigarette smoking, ethnicity, and breast cancer risk using data from the Breast Cancer Health Disparities Study (BCHDS).

Materials and methods: The BCHDS is a consortium of three population-based case-control studies, including U.S. non-Hispanic whites (NHWs) (1,525 cases; 1,593 controls), U.S. Hispanics/Native Americans (1,265 cases; 1,495 controls), and Mexican women (990 cases; 1,049 controls). Multivariable logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Results: Breast cancer risk was elevated among Mexican former smokers (OR 1.43, 95% CI 1.04-1.96) and among those who smoked ≥ 31 years (OR 1.95, 95% CI 1.13-3.35), compared to never smokers. In addition, Mexican former smokers with a history of alcohol consumption had increased breast cancer risk (OR 2.30, 95% CI 1.01-5.21). Among NHW premenopausal women, breast cancer risk was increased for smoking ≥ 20 cigarettes per day (OR 1.61, 95% CI 1.07-2.41).

Conclusion: Our findings suggest the possibility of ethnic differences with the associations between cigarette smoking and breast cancer risk.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Alcohol Drinking / adverse effects
  • Alcohol Drinking / ethnology
  • Body Mass Index
  • Breast Neoplasms / complications
  • Breast Neoplasms / ethnology*
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Ethnicity / statistics & numerical data
  • Female
  • Health Status Disparities
  • Healthcare Disparities / ethnology*
  • Hispanic or Latino / statistics & numerical data*
  • Humans
  • Logistic Models
  • Middle Aged
  • Premenopause
  • Risk Factors
  • Smoking / adverse effects*
  • Smoking / ethnology
  • United States
  • White People / statistics & numerical data*