Use of Breast Cancer Risk Factors to Identify Risk-Adapted Starting Age of Screening in China

Abstract

ImportanceAlthough current guidelines highlight the need for earlier screening in women at increased risk of breast cancer in China, data on risk-adapted starting ages of screening are limited.ObjectiveTo explore the risk-adapted starting age of breast cancer screening in China, with comprehensive consideration of breast cancer risk factors.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsA multicenter community-based cohort study was conducted under the framework of the Cancer Screening Program in Urban China. Data were collected from January 1, 2013, to December 31, 2018, for unscreened community-dwelling women aged 40 to 74 years without a history of cancer, kidney dysfunction, or severe heart, brain, or lung disease. Data analysis was performed from October 1, 2021, to August 16, 2022.ExposuresBaseline characteristics associated with breast cancer, including first-degree family history of breast cancer, benign breast disease, breastfeeding, age at menarche, and body mass index.Main Outcomes and MeasuresOutcomes included breast cancer diagnosis and age at diagnosis. Risk-adapted starting age of screening was defined as the age at which women with different levels of breast cancer risk attained a 10-year cumulative risk level similar to women aged 50 years in the general population.ResultsOf the 1 549 988 women enrolled in this study, 3895 had breast cancer (median follow-up, 4.47 [IQR, 3.16-6.35] years). Participants were divided into different risk groups according to breast cancer risk scores (driven by risk factors including first-degree family history of breast cancer, benign breast disease, breastfeeding, age at menarche, and body mass index). Using the 10-year cumulative risk of breast cancer at age 50 years in the general population as a benchmark (2.65% [95% CI, 2.50%-2.76%]), the optimal starting age of screening for women with high, medium, or low risk of breast cancer was identified as 43, 48, or after 55 years, respectively. An online calculator was developed to calculate an individual’s optimal starting age of screening.Conclusions and RelevanceThis study identifies the risk-adapted starting age of breast cancer screening based on the principle of equal management of equal risks, which may inform updates of current screening guidelines.

Risk-Based Approaches to Breast Cancer Screening in China

“…There are important limitations to the work by Zheng et al 2 First, the researchers had a limited set of risk factors available. Moreover, risk factors for the development of breast cancer in the Chinese population are less well studied than they are for the US population, for example.…”

“…Zheng et al2 examines data from more than 1.5 million women participating in a population-based breast cancer screening program in China. The authors used available data on select breast cancer risk factors in the cohort (including family history, reproductive history, and benign breast disease) and incident cancers 2.…”

“…Zheng et al2 examines data from more than 1.5 million women participating in a population-based breast cancer screening program in China. The authors used available data on select breast cancer risk factors in the cohort (including family history, reproductive history, and benign breast disease) and incident cancers 2. Using a multivariable Cox proportional hazards model, they assigned risk scores to individuals in the cohort who were then grouped into 3 risk categories: low (hazard ratio…”

“…Although experts increasingly recommend that considerations such as family history, breast density, and other breast cancer risk factors inform screening decisions, this approach is not yet formally integrated into US national guidelines such as the US Preventive Service Task Force screening recommendations . The study by Zheng et al examines data from more than 1.5 million women participating in a population-based breast cancer screening program in China. The authors used available data on select breast cancer risk factors in the cohort (including family history, reproductive history, and benign breast disease) and incident cancers .…”

“…The study by Zheng et al examines data from more than 1.5 million women participating in a population-based breast cancer screening program in China. The authors used available data on select breast cancer risk factors in the cohort (including family history, reproductive history, and benign breast disease) and incident cancers . Using a multivariable Cox proportional hazards model, they assigned risk scores to individuals in the cohort who were then grouped into 3 risk categories: low (hazard ratio [HR], 1 [reference]), medium (HR, 1.32 [95% CI, 1.24-1.41]), or high (HR, 1.75 [95% CI, 1.53-1.99]).…”