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Anthropometric Measurements and Epithelial Ovarian Cancer Risk in African–American and White women

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Abstract

Previous studies of anthropometric factors and ovarian cancer risk have been inconsistent and none have evaluated the association among African–American women. Data from a population-based, case–control study of 593 cases and 628 controls were used to evaluate ovarian cancer risk in relation to weight, height, body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR). Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were computed and established risk factors were adjusted for using logistic regression models, stratified by race. Among all races, weight at age 18, WHR, weight and BMI one year prior to interview were associated with elevated ovarian cancer risk. When stratified by race, the association between WHR and ovarian was similar among Whites and among African Americans. However, African–American women in the fourth quartile of height had an elevated risk of ovarian cancer (OR = 3.2; 95% CI  = 1.3–7.8), but this risk was not apparent in Whites (OR = 1.0; 95% CI␣ = 0.7–1.4). These findings support the hypothesis that obesity is an important risk factor of ovarian cancer among African–Americans and Whites and also suggest that height may be a risk factor specific to African–Americans.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Community and Family Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, 2424 Erwin Rd, Hock Plaza, ste 602, Durham, 27710, NC, USA

    Cathrine Hoyo, Patricia Moorman & Joellen M. Schildkraut

  2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA

    Andrew Berchuck

  3. Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA

    Susan Halabi

  4. Department of Pathology Clinical Services, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA

    Rex C. Bentley

  5. Cancer Prevention, Detection and Control Research Program, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA

    Brian Calingaert

Authors
  1. Cathrine Hoyo
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  2. Andrew Berchuck
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  3. Susan Halabi
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  4. Rex C. Bentley
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  5. Patricia Moorman
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  6. Brian Calingaert
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  7. Joellen M. Schildkraut
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Joellen M. Schildkraut.

Additional information

★ This work was performed at the Duke University Comprehensive Cancer, Durham, NC, USA.

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Hoyo, C., Berchuck, A., Halabi, S. et al. Anthropometric Measurements and Epithelial Ovarian Cancer Risk in African–American and White women. Cancer Causes Control 16, 955–963 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-005-3205-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-005-3205-y

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