Introduction: The present case-control study was conducted between September 2016 and August 2019 at Ayatollah Khansari Hospital in Arak (Iran) and aimed to comprehensively identify risk factors associated with breast cancer among local women.
Methods: The research included 400 confirmed breast cancer cases and 400 age-matched healthy controls randomly selected from female hospital visitors. Sample size calculation was justified based on prior epidemiological studies assuming a breast cancer prevalence of approximately 50%, with calculations set at a 95% confidence interval and 80% statistical power. Data collection was performed using an interviewer-administered standardized questionnaire covering domains, such as socio-demographic characteristics, reproductive history, medical conditions, lifestyle behaviors, and family history. Data analysis utilized binary and multivariate logistic regression conducted through the SPSS (version 16) software, allowing for rigorous identification of independent risk factors.
Results:The results identified significant breast cancer risk factors, notably including family history of breast cancer (OR=12.02, 95% CI: 4.20–32.56, P<0.001), low education level (OR=6.38, 95% CI: 4.71–11.47, P<0.001), older age at first pregnancy (OR=3.21, 95% CI: 1.83–4.61, P<0.001), and early menarche (OR=2.43, 95% CI: 1.81–4.33, P<0.001). Urban lifestyle was found not to be significantly associated with breast cancer risk in multivariate analysis (OR=1.13, 95% CI: 0.98–1.40, P=0.068).
Conclusion: These findings underscore the necessity for targeted genetic screening and tailored educational programs, particularly addressing women with lower educational status and family history of breast cancer, to improve early detection and prevention.
