Wu AH, et al. – This study was designed to explore the role of physician–diagnosed hypertension, high cholesterol, and diabetes separately, and in combination, in relation to the risk of breast cancer in a population–based case–control study of 2,167 Asian Americans diagnosed with breast cancer and 2,035 age and ethnicity matched control women in Los Angeles County. Results revealed that westernization in lifestyle (diet, physical inactivity) and a corresponding increase in adiposity had contributed to the rising prevalence of these metabolic conditions, which in turn, were associated with an increase in breast cancer.

• Results revealed a steady increase in risk (respective odds ratios (ORs) were 1.12, 1.42, 1.62; P trend=0.001) with adjustment for covariates including body mass index in those with 1, 2, or 3 conditions as compared to Asian American women who did not have any of the metabolic conditions.
• There were similar significant trends in Filipina Americans (P trend=0.021), postmenopausal women (P trend =0.001), Asian women who were born in the United States (US) (P trend =0.032) and migrants who have lived in the US for at least 20 years (P trend=0.008), but not migrants who lived in the US for <20 years (P trend=0.62).