Could Anthropometric and Lipid Parameters Reflect Susceptibility to Breast Cancer? Comparison of Newly Diagnosed Breast Cancer and Apparently Healthy Women

Abstract

Objectives: To determine and compare the serum lipid profiles and anthropometric parameters of newly diagnosed<br />BC patients and healthy women. Methods: Serum total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C),<br />low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), very low density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C), triglyceride (TG)<br />and TC: HDL-C were measured in consent obtained newly diagnosed BC patients (n=155) and age matched apparently<br />healthy females (n=75). Weight (W), height (H), waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC) and mid upper arm<br />circumference (MUC) of each women were recorded. Cut off values for each parameter was found by receiver operative<br />characteristic (ROC) curves and risk associated with was calculated using SPSS version 16. Results: Majority (67%)<br />of BC women were postmenopausal. The mean TC, HDL-C, LDL-C, VLDL-C, TC: HDL-C, TG concentrations of<br />BC patients who were not on cholesterol lowering drugs (n= 126) were 234 mg/dL (±51), 43 mg/dL (±10), 164 mg/dL<br />(±44), 27 mg/dL (±14), 5.7(±1.7) and 135 mg/dL (±69) respectively. TC, LDL-C and TC: HDL-C of BC patients were<br />significantly elevated when compared with healthy females. Significant difference in serum lipid profile parameters was<br />not observed (p> 0.05) according to the menopausal status of BC and healthy women. One third (30.3%) of BC patients<br />were overweight and 45% were obese. Majority had elevated WC (72%), W: H ratios (89%) and MUC (89%). BMI,<br />W: H and MUC of BC women were significantly higher (p<0.05) when compared with healthy females. Conclusions:<br />The lipid parameters TC, LDL-C and TC: HDL-C above 203 mg/dL, 139 mg/dL and 3.9 respectively were risk factors.<br />Among anthropometric measures, BMI>25 kg/m2 showed the highest risk while elevated W:H and MUC were also<br />significant risk factors among the study group.