Background and Objectives: Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality in women and is influenced by genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of risk factors in breast cancer patients and their association with disease progression and survival.
Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 400 breast cancer patients treated between 2011 and 2021 at Sina and Farmaniyeh hospitals in Tehran. The study evaluated clinical factors like hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia, alongside reproductive histories and lifestyle factors such as smoking and oral contraceptive use. Tumor characteristics and 5-year survival outcomes were analyzed using logistic regression and Kaplan-Meier methods.
Results: Hypertension was correlated with advanced tumor stages (P = 0.048) and higher grades (P = 0.025). Early menarche is associated with lymphovascular involvement (P = 0.005) and an increased risk of metastasis (P = 0.049). Additionally, smoking significantly raised the risk of lymphovascular invasion (P < 0.001). Survival analysis revealed a non-significant trend toward reduced 5-year survival in hypertensive patients (log-rank P = 0.288), with cumulative hazard curves indicating higher mortality rates. No significant associations were found for diabetes, family history, or contraceptive use.
Conclusion: The results indicate that hypertension is linked to aggressive tumor characteristics, potentially affecting disease progression. Although the connection to survival was not statistically significant, the increased risk in hypertensive patients calls for further research. Additionally, early menarche and smoking correlate with negative tumor features, emphasizing the need to monitor hypertension and address lifestyle factors in breast cancer management.