Date of Award

January 2012

Document Type

Open Access Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Public Health (MPH)

Department

School of Public Health

First Advisor

Herbert Yu

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Women with a medical history of pelvic inflammatory disease, endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome, diabetes, high blood pressure or other selected medical conditions, as well as a family history of cancer, are assumed to be at increased risk of endometrial cancer. This study was designed to test these assumptions, as evidence for them is lacking. METHODS: We carried out a population-based case-control study in Connecticut between 2004 and 2008, including 668 endometrial cancer cases and 674 controls from eligible residents matched with age. Medical histories and family history of cancers were reported and conditional logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratio (OR) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). RESULTS: After adjusting for various covariates, only the association between a history of high blood pressure and endometrial cancer risk remained significant (Adjusted OR = 1.71; 95% CI: 1.25-2.34). A family history of cancer in the uterus was directly associated with endometrial cancer risk (Adjusted OR=2.02; 95% CI: 1.06-3.86). CONCLUSIONS: A history of high blood pressure and a family history of uterus cancer among 1st degree relatives are both associated with an increased risk of endometrial cancer.

Comments

This is an Open Access Thesis.

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