An increased risk of breast cancer after delayed first parity

doi:10.1016/S0002-9610(03)00272-1

The American Journal of Surgery

Volume 186, Issue 4, October 2003, Pages 409-412

Presented at the Fourth Annual Meeting of the American Society of Breast Surgeons, Atlanta, Georgia, April 30–May 4, 2003

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0002-9610(03)00272-1 Get rights and content

Abstract

Background

As delayed childbirth increases for socioeconomic and fertility reasons, its impact on breast cancer risk needs definition.

Methods

From 1975 to 1981, 1,307 women with childbirth at ≥40 years of age were identified. They were divided into four groups by estimated first birth median ages (EFBMA): 23, 34, 38, and 41 years, corresponding to previous parity of more than 3, 2 or 3, 1, and zero, respectively. Cancer Registry cross-referencing identified those diagnosed with breast cancer.

Results

Breast cancer developed in 39 women. The EFBMA of 41 years carried a relative risk of 3.7, (95%CI: 1.30 to 10.5) compared with age 23. Odds ratio of breast cancer was 1.08 (95%CI: 1.02 to 1.14) with each year older at first birth and 0.79 (95% CI: 0.67 to 0.93) for each additional previous birth.

Conclusions

Increased breast cancer risk with advancing maternal age at first childbirth is supported by 3.7 relative risk in women with an EFBMA of 41 years compared with those with an EFBMA of 23 years.

Section snippets

Methods

The examination of Rhode Island Vital Statistics Records identified 1,307 women with full-term pregnancies at 40 years of age or older between 1975 and 1989. Because the maternal age at first birth for these women was not recorded in the data from Vital Statistics, a surrogate group was then developed from the records of Women and Infants' Hospital of Rhode Island for 1998 to estimate age at first birth based upon previous parity. Birth records from a group of women 40 years or older delivering

Results

The number of women in the four estimated median age groups of 23, 34, 38, and 41 years were 483, 455, 195, and 174, respectively (Table 1). The majority of women (87%) having a child after 40 were multiparous. Breast cancer developed in 39 of the 1,307 study subjects after a minimum follow-up of 3 years, a maximum follow-up of 26 years, and a median follow-up of 12 years. Although only 13% of all subjects had their first child after 40 years of age, 21% of all breast cancers patients were in

Comments

From 1970 to 2000, the distribution of maternal age in the United States has changed, with fewer women younger than 20 years and more women older than 35 years giving birth. Over the last 3 decades the maternal mean and median age have increased by 2.6 years, from 24.6 to 27.2 and by 1.7 years, from 25.4 to 27.1, respectively. The mean and median age of the mother at first birth has also increased during this time, by 3.5 years, from 21.4 to 24.9 and 2.5 years, from 22.1 to 24.6, respectively.

Acknowledgements

This research was supported by a grant (Interdisciplinary Breast Fellowship Program) from the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

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Scientific paperAn increased risk of breast cancer after delayed first parity

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Section snippets

Methods

Results

Comments

Acknowledgements

Lancet

Fertil Steril

Lancet

Age at first birth and breast cancer risk

Bull WHO

Mean age of mother, 1970-2000

Natl Vital Stat Rep

Age at first birth, parity, and breast cancer risk

Cancer

Differential effects of reproductive factors on the risk of pre and postmenopausal breast cancer. Results from a large cohort of French women

Br J Cancer

Role of reproductive factors in breast cancer in a low-risk areaa case-control study

Br J Cancer

Reproductive history and stage of breast cancer

Am J Epidemiol

Effect of family history, body-fat distribution, and reproductive factors on the risk of postmenopausal breast cancer

N Engl J Med

Scientific paper
An increased risk of breast cancer after delayed first parity