Breast Cancer Risk Factors Analysis in Middle-Aged Women: Evidence From a Cross-Sectional Epidemiological Study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Breast cancer continues to impose a considerable burden on women's health worldwide and represents one of the primary causes of cancer-related mortality. Despite extensive research, regional data on its distribution and associated determinants remain essential. The present study evaluated the frequency of breast cancer and explored potential related factors among middle-aged women in Isfahan, Iran. METHODS: A cross-sectional epidemiological survey was performed between March 2021 and March 2022 across four university-affiliated health centers in Isfahan. Information regarding sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle behaviors, and medical history was gathered using a structured data collection form. Descriptive statistics were applied to summarize the data. Group comparisons were conducted using independent t-tests for continuous variables and chi-square tests for categorical variables. A confidence level of 95% was considered for statistical inference. RESULTS: Among the 1001 women included in the analysis, 92 cases of breast cancer were identified, whereas 909 participants had no diagnosis of the disease. Statistical analysis revealed significant relationships between breast cancer and alcohol use (p = 0.014) as well as height greater than 175 cm (p = 0.048). No meaningful associations were observed for the remaining evaluated variables (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The study findings indicate a potential link between alcohol consumption, increased height, and breast cancer occurrence in middle-aged women. Further large-scale, multi-center investigations are warranted to confirm these observations and to enhance understanding of modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors that may inform preventive strategies.