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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Julia E. Heck, MPH, MPhil, Epidemiology, ISERP Graduate Fellow, Columbia University, 270 International Affairs Bldg, MC3355, 420 W 118th St., New York, NY 10027, 212-854-6713, jeh61@columbia.edu and Randall L. Sell, ScD, Sociomedical Sciences, Columbia University, 722 West 168th Street, SPH/SMS 11th Floor, New York, NY 10032.

Background: It has been hypothesized that women who have sex with women (WSW) are at higher risk for breast cancer based on a spectrum of risk factors, but few population-based data exist to describe their risk. Methods: Using the pooled 2000 and 2003 National Health Interview Surveys, we identified persons living in a same-sex relationship (SSR) or opposite-sex relationship (OSR). We used weighted chi-square tests to compare SSR and OSR subjects with respect to body mass index (BMI), parity, age at first birth, age at menarche, and use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or oral contraceptives (OCs). We then used weighted logistic regression to compare risk factors while controlling for age, race, region, education, income, and urbanicity of residence. Results: The sample included 50 SSR and 7550 OSR women. SSR women were less likely to have ever given birth (32.5% vs. 80.8%, p<.00001), although those who had given birth did so at a significantly younger age (mean=20.7) than OSR women (23.2, p<0.0001). SSR women had higher rates of obesity (BMI>30) (38.0%) than OSR (25.3%, p=0.05). SSR women had lower rates of ever using OCs (45.6%) compared to OSR women (77.1%, p<0.0001). Age at menarche and use of HRT were equivalent across groups. After controlling for explanatory factors, SSR women were much less likely to have ever given birth (OR=0.09, 95% CI: 0.05-0.19) or ever used OCs (OR=0.20, 0.10-0.39). SSR women were over twice as likely to be obese (OR=2.29, 1.06-4.96). Conclusions: We recommend targeting WSW in breast screening programs.

Learning Objectives:

• Articulate elevated risk factors for breast cancer relevant for lesbian women.

Keywords: Breast Cancer, Cancer Screening

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No