Effect modification of body mass index on the association between ovarian cysts and endometrial cancer.
Cancer Epidemiol 2022;
78:102129. [PMID:
35272258 DOI:
10.1016/j.canep.2022.102129]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2021] [Revised: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Ovarian cysts represent a common condition among women. Epidemiologic studies are inconsistent in determining if women with cysts are more likely to develop endometrial cancer (EC) regardless of overweight/obesity. We investigated the combined role of cysts and body mass index (BMI) on EC risk.
METHODS
We pooled data from three case-control studies conducted in Italy and Switzerland on 920 women with EC and 1700 controls. The prevalence of cysts was 5% among both cases and controls, with 63% of cases being overweight/obese. We estimated odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using logistic regression models, adjusting for potential confounders. We conducted stratified analyses according to BMI, and estimated the interaction between cysts and BMI; we carried out additional analyses according to age at diagnosis of cysts.
RESULTS
Overall, history of cysts was not associated to EC (OR=1.27, 95% CI=0.82-1.97, P = 0.29). Normal weight women reporting cysts had an increased risk of EC (OR=2.49, 95% CI=1.31-4.74), while no such effect was found among overweight/obese women (OR=0.65, 95% CI=0.36-1.18; P for interaction=0.004). The association was limited to women below 65 years of age and was stronger in those who reported cysts at age 48 or older.
CONCLUSIONS
Cysts appeared to be a risk factor for EC in lean women but not in overweight/obese ones; these results are consistent with an effect of cysts and obesity on EC along common pathways.
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