Impact of neighborhoods and body size on survival after breast cancer diagnosis. (November 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shariff-Marco, Salma; Gomez, Scarlett L.; Sangaramoorthy, Meera; Yang, Juan; Koo, Jocelyn; Hertz, Andrew; John, Esther M.; Cheng, Iona; Keegan, Theresa H.M.
• Is Part Of: Health & place. Volume 36(2015:Nov.)
• Page Start: 162
• Page End: 172
• Publication Date: 2015-11
• Subjects: Body size -- Waist-to-hip ratio -- Breast cancer survival -- Neighborhood; Health -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Health services accessibility -- Periodicals; Public health -- Periodicals; Political planning -- Periodicals; Social medicine -- Periodicals; Epidemiology -- Periodicals; Health Policy -- Periodicals; Health Services Accessibility -- Periodicals; Public Health -- Periodicals; Public Policy -- Periodicals; Sociology, Medical -- Periodicals; Épidémiologie -- Périodiques; Politique sanitaire -- Périodiques; Santé, Services de -- Accessibilité -- Périodiques; Health services accessibility; Health -- Social aspects; Political planning; Public health; Social medicine; Periodicals; 613
• DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2015.10.003
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1353-8292

Abstract

Abstract: With data from the Neighborhoods and Breast Cancer Study, we examined the associations between body size, social and built environments, and survival following breast cancer diagnosis among 4347 women in the San Francisco Bay Area. Lower neighborhood socioeconomic status and greater neighborhood crowding were associated with higher waist-to-hip ratio (WHR). After mutual adjustment, WHR, but not neighborhood characteristics, was positively associated with overall mortality and marginally with breast cancer-specific mortality. Our findings suggest that WHR is an important modifiable prognostic factor for breast cancer survivors. Future WHR interventions should account for neighborhood characteristics that may influence WHR. Highlights: Waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) was associated with breast cancer-specific survival. Neighborhood socioeconomic status and crowding were associated with WHR. Neighborhood features were not associated with survival. WHR is an important modifiable prognostic factor for breast cancer survivors. WHR may better characterize distribution of adiposity among diverse groups of women.