Takeaway
Endometrial cancer risk was positively associated with body mass index (BMI), weight, body fat percentage, and fat mass in postmenopausal women.
Central adiposity, as reflected by waist circumference and waist to hip ratio, may be associated with endometrial cancer risk independent of BMI.
Why this matters
Findings suggest that body fat percentage and fat mass may not be better indicators of endometrial cancer risk than BMI.
Study design
UK Biobank study of 135,110 post-menopausal women.
Associations between various measures of body size/composition with the risk of endometrial cancer assessed.
Funding: None disclosed.
Key results
706 endometrial cancers were identified, with a mean age at diagnosis of 65.5 years, during a mean follow-up of 6.8 years.
The HRs for endometrial cancer per 1-standard deviation (SD) increase in BMI, weight, body fat percentage, and fat mass were comparable:
BMI (HR, 1.71; 95% CI, 1.61-1.82);
weight (HR, 1.70; 95% CI, 1.60-1.81);
body fat percentage (HR, 1.92; 95% CI, 1.75-2.11); and
fat mass (HR, 1.73; 95% CI, 1.63-1.85).
However, in terms of X2 statistics, BMI was the most informative marker (X2 values for BMI, weight, body fat percentage, and fat mass were 509, 499, 456, and 501, respectively).
After adjustment for BMI, central adiposity, as reflected by waist circumference (HRper 1-SD increase, 1.08; 95% CI, 1.00-1.17) and waist to hip ratio (HRper 1-SD increase, 1.13; 95% CI, 1.01-1.26), was positively associated with endometrial cancer risk.
Hip circumference and fat-free mass were not associated with the endometrial cancer risk independent of BMI.
Limitations
Study largely reflects associations with type I tumours.
This clinical summary first appeared on Univadis from Medscape.
Cite this: Body Size/Composition and Endometrial Cancer Risk in Postmenopausal Women - Medscape - Apr 30, 2020.
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