WORLD JOURNAL OF ADVANCE
HEALTHCARE RESEARCH

*Nadia R. Bahar, Besmah M. Ali and Najim Al-Khalidy

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Mammography is an important diagnostic imaging and screening modality for the early detection of breast cancer. Increased mammographic breast density (MBD) is not only a risk factor for breast cancer diagnosis, but it results in reducing the sensitivity and specificity of mammography. Understanding influencing factors on MBD aids in targeting women who require more attention in breast cancer screening programs and even in trying to reach direct causation in breast density and hence breast cancer. Objectives: Examine factors influencing breast density in mammography. Methods: Between March and September 2022, record files of 150 women over 35 years of age who attended woman's health center in Al-Elwiya Maternity Teaching Hospital in Baghdad, Iraq were randomly chosen. According to the results of mammography, we divided cases into two groups. Group I type A+B (Non- dense,), Group II type C+D (dense,), by using BI-RADS classification for breast density, 2013. The data of the cases was analyzed retrospectively. Results: Six significant factors were found to be associated with mammographic density: age (OR: 1.5; 95% CI: (0.13-16.9), Body Mass index (BMI) (OR: 0.68; 95% CI: 0.29-1.55), parity (OR: 1.5; 95% CI: 0.13-16.9), age at menarche (OR: 0.74; 95% CI: 0.04-12.0), diagnosis with malignancy (OR: 0.733; 95% CI: 0.24-2.18), diagnosis with benign disease (OR: 0.484; 95% CI: 0.18-1.29) and the duration of breastfeeding in months (OR: 0.253; 95% CI: 0.025-2.49). Conclusion: Increased BMI, age in years and parity result in reduction of MBD. Also, BMI and the age at menarche were found to be independent risk factors for reducing MBD. There was an inverse relation between the duration of breastfeeding and breast density.

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