Oral Contraceptives As a Risk Factor for Developing Breast Cancer in Women in the State of Alagoas. Case-Control Study

INTRODUCTION

Cancer is a major public health problem worldwide. According to the National Cancer Institute (INCA) in Brazil, breast cancer represents the leading cause of cancer death among women. Objective: To evaluate the use of oral contraceptives (OC) as a risk factor for breast cancer.

METHODS

Data collection was conducted through interviews in hospitals as an instrument having a protocol previously developed and tested. The sample size was 752 patients divided into 299 cases to 453 controls obtained in the period 2001 to 2010. Data was analyzed in SPSS using the chi-square test and Mann-Whitney/Wilcoxon Two-Sample, and calculating the Odds ratio.

RESULTS

Among the respondents, it was observed that 391 (52%) women used OC, 121 in the case group (40%) and 270 women in the control group (60%). There was no association between oral contraceptive use and breast cancer, OR = 0.46 (OR <1), 95% CI (0.34 to 0.62) and when analyzing the sample with respect to time of use, we found no statistical significance, but when we put a bridge cut of 60 months, we achieved statistical significance, therefore the use of CO did not behave as a risk factor OR of 0.39 IC 95%. Regarding the use of the CO before the first pregnancy also did not detect an association, we obtained an OR of 0.46 IC 95%.

CONCLUSION

There was no association between the use of OC with the development of breast cancer in general, with time of exposure and onset of use before first pregnancy, although these variables have shown statistical significance.