The influence of age, menstrual state and body mass index on the relation between osteopenia and osteoporosis associated with breast cancer

Abstract

Osteoporosis and body mass index (BMI) have been reported to be associated with breast cancer. The correlation between other types of bone loss and breast cancer requires further illustrative evidence. Effect of age and menstrual state on the relationship of osteoporosis, osteopenia and BMI with breast cancer was evaluated in this study. Two hundred breast cancer patients and 200 breast cancer-free patients were included in a case–control study. Bone mineral density (BMD) and BMI were determined in all subjects. Postmenopause was the most frequent menstrual state. osteopenia was found to be significant in breast cancer patients and osteoporosis was significant in another group of women. There was no significant difference between breast cancer patients and control women in terms of age and menstrual status. Obesity was common in all subjects. In conclusion, bone loss rates are significantly low in breast cancer patients relative to healthy women. There was no significant impact of age, menstrual status or BMI on the development of osteopenia or osteoporosis in breast cancer patients. In addition, BMD analytical results may identify the appropriate treatment for bone loss. A routine check-up of osteopenia or osteoporosis is highly recommended for breast cancer patients.

Impact Statement

• What is already known on this subject? Breast cancer may be associated with a wide variety of human body parameters. These parameters can include age, body mass index (BMI), obesity and menstrual status. There is also a correlation between osteoporosis and breast cancer.

• What do the results of this study add? Osteopenia is the most frequent form of bone loss among women with breast cancer. In contrast, osteoporosis as the worst stage of bone loss is unusual in these patients. Factors such as age, menstruation and BMI have no effect on the development of breast cancer.

• What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? Identification of the type of bone loss in women with breast cancer is essential to determine the appropriate type of therapy.

Keywords:

• Breast cancer
• BMD
• BMI
• osteopenia
• osteoporosis

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.