Differences in mammographic density between Asian and Caucasian populations: a comparative analysis

Rajaram N 1 , Mariapun S 1 , Eriksson M 2 , Tapia J 2 , Kwan PY 1 , Ho WK 3 Show all authors , Harun F 4 , Rahmat K 4 , Czene K 2 , Taib NA 4 , Hall P 2 , Teo SH 5

Affiliations 

  • 1 Cancer Research Malaysia, 1 Jalan SS12/1A, 47500, Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
  • 2 Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Box 281, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden
  • 3 Department of Applied Mathematics, Faculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus, Jalan Broga, 43500, Semenyih, Selangor, Malaysia
  • 4 Breast Cancer Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University Malaya Cancer Research Institute, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • 5 Cancer Research Malaysia, 1 Jalan SS12/1A, 47500, Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia. soohwang.teo@cancerresearch.my
Breast Cancer Res Treat, 2017 01;161(2):353-362.
PMID: 27864652 DOI: 10.1007/s10549-016-4054-y

Abstract

PURPOSE: Mammographic density is a measurable and modifiable biomarker that is strongly and independently associated with breast cancer risk. Paradoxically, although Asian women have lower risk of breast cancer, studies of minority Asian women in predominantly Caucasian populations have found that Asian women have higher percent density. In this cross-sectional study, we compared the distribution of mammographic density for a matched cohort of Asian women from Malaysia and Caucasian women from Sweden, and determined if variations in mammographic density could be attributed to population differences in breast cancer risk factors.

METHODS: Volumetric mammographic density was compared for 1501 Malaysian and 4501 Swedish healthy women, matched on age and body mass index. We used multivariable log-linear regression to determine the risk factors associated with mammographic density and mediation analysis to identify factors that account for differences in mammographic density between the two cohorts.

RESULTS: Compared to Caucasian women, percent density was 2.0% higher among Asian women (p 

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

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