Abstract B29: Case-control study of metabolic syndrome and breast cancer in Puerto Rico

Background: Breast cancer is the leading cancer type among women in the United States (US) and Puerto Rico (PR); incidence rates of breast cancer have increased in both of these populations in the last decades. In fact, Puerto Rico has highest prevalence of diabetes among all US states and territories. Diabetes, obesity and the metabolic syndrome (MS) are rapidly increasing in Hispanic populations, and research on the impact of these conditions on breast cancer among Hispanics is scarce. Objectives: This study assessed the association of MS with breast cancer among Hispanic women in PR. The secondary aim was to assess the association of the individual components of the MS (hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, abdominal obesity and elevated blood pressure) with breast cancer. Methods: A matched clinic-based case-control study of 226 Hispanic women was performed between 2011 and 2013. One hundred thirteen cases and 113 controls were recruited in four clinics/hospitals in Puerto Rico and were individually matched by age (±5 years), menopausal status and recruitment site (response rate of 83% for cases and 84% of controls). Data collection procedures included a structured questionnaire, anthropometric and blood pressure measurements. According to the AHA/NHLBI definition, a woman was defined to have the MS if she had at least 3 of the following risk factors: waist circumference ≥35 inches, 2) triglycerides ≥150 mg/dL, 3) HDL