Abstract
Aim
While the role of physical activity in breast cancer (BC) risk has been reported in a few available studies from sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), the independent role of sedentary behavior hypothesized as differing from physical inactivity has not been investigated in the region. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between sedentary behavior and BC risk in Nigeria.
Subject and methods
The study was a case–control design involving 379 histologically confirmed BC cases and 403 cancer-free controls from five public hospitals across Nigeria. The participants were interviewed in person using a pretested and validated questionnaire. Sedentary behavior was measured as the self-reported number of hours of sitting per week (hours/week) associated with occupation, religious activity, and watching television (TV). Data were analyzed using multivariable logistic regression based on SPSS software, adjusting for relevant confounders.
Results
Total sedentary time (OR [≥ 44.5 hours/week vs, < 27.50 hours/week] 1.77, 95% CI: 1.05, 2.98) was associated with increased BC risk. Every additional hour/week of sitting was associated with 2% (95% CI: 0%, 4%, p for trend = 0.033) increased BC risk among women with estrogen receptor-negative (ER–) BC. Occupational sedentary time (OR [≥ 23.4 hours/week versus < 12 hours/week] 1.70, 95% CI: 1.02, 2.85) and time spent watching TV were also associated with increased BC risk.
Conclusion
The number of hours of sitting was independently associated with increased BC risk. Reducing sedentary time, in both occupational and domestic settings, will potentially contribute to a decreased risk of BC in Nigeria.
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Data availability
The data generated and analysed during the current study are not publicly available but are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
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Acknowledgements
We thank all those who contributed in various ways to the Nigeria breast cancer risk factor study, especially the Vice Chancellor and Management of the National Open University of Nigeria, Dr. Rasaaq A. Oyesegun, and Dr. Adewunmi Alabi.
Funding
Partial financial support was received from the National Open University of Nigeria.
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Samuel O. Azubuike: Conceptualisation, Methodology, Formal analysis, Investigation, Resources, Data curation, Writing—original draft, Writing—review & editing, Visualisation, Project administration, Funding acquisition. Richard McNally: Methodology, Investigation, Resources, Writing—review & editing, Visualisation, Supervision. Louise Hayes: Methodology, Investigation, Resources, Writing—review & editing, Visualisation, Supervision. Linda Sharp: Methodology, Investigation, Resources, Writing – review & editing, Visualisation, Supervision. Ogechi Abazie: Investigation, Resources, Writing – review & editing.
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Institutional ethical approvals were obtained from the Ethics Committees of the participating institutions: University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada (FCT/UATH/HREC/PR/537); Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idiaraba (ADM/DCST/HREC/APP/1108); National Hospital, Abuja (NHA/EC/085/2016); Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja (NRECC04/04/2008); General Hospital, Lagos Island (SUB/GHL/1288/19); Lagos State Health Services Commission, Lagos, Nigeria (LSHSC/2222/Vol. XIX/48). The authors certify that the study was performed in accordance with the ethical standards as laid down in the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments.
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Informed consent was obtained in writing from all participants using a consent form specifically prepared for this purpose. In the case of aged and illiterate participants, it was obtained by proxy through a relative they trusted and designated to act on their behalf. The study was performed in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki.
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Azubuike, S.O., Sharp, L., Hayes, L. et al. Sedentary behavior and the risk of breast cancer: findings from a Nigerian case–control study. J Public Health (Berl.) (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-024-02229-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-024-02229-8