Is body size associated with ovarian cancer in southern Chinese women?

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the association between risk of ovarian cancer and body size among southern Chinese women. Methods: A hospital-based case–control study was undertaken in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, from 2006 to 2008. Participants were 500 incident ovarian cancer patients and 500 controls, with a mean age of 59 years. Information on adult height and weight was obtained via face-to-face interview using a structured questionnaire. Logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the association between anthropometric factors and the ovarian cancer risk. Results: Compared with women having body weight ≤50 kg and body mass index (BMI) <18.5 kg/m2, the adjusted odds ratios (ORs) of ovarian cancer were 1.84 (95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.34–2.54) and 1.77 (95 % CI 1.04–3.02) in those women who had body weight >55 kg and BMI ≥23 kg/m2, respectively. Significant dose–response relationships were also observed for both weight and BMI (p<0.01). Body height was not significantly associated with ovarian cancer risk. Conclusion: Body weight and BMI were associated with increased risk of ovarian cancer in southern Chinese women.