Relation of Anthropometric Measurements to Ovarian Cancer Risk in a Population-Based Case-Control Study (United States)

Objective To examine the relationship between anthropometric measures and ovarian cancer by menopausal status. Methods We analyzed data from a population-based case-control study comprised of 700 incident cases of epithelial ovarian cancer and 5,943 population controls from Massachusetts and Wisconsin enrolled between 1993 and 2001. In a telephone interview, information was gathered on established ovarian cancer risk factors, as well as adult height and age-specific body weight. Logistic regression was used to estimate multivariate-adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for body mass index (BMI) throughout life. Results Recent BMI had no significant association with ovarian cancer risk (P-trend 0.14 for continuous BMI), after adjustment for age and other ovarian cancer risk factors. However, a non-significant positive association (overall P-trend 0.08) was observed for BMI at age 20; the risk estimate comparing a body mass of >25 kg/m2 to the lowest quintile (≤18.88 kg/m2) was moderately but non-significantly elevated (OR 1.46; 95% CI 0.92, 2.31). Conclusion Results of this study suggest that maintenance of a lean body mass, particularly in early adult life, may decrease ovarian cancer risk.