Overview

• Each 5 kg/m2 increase in body mass index corresponds to a 31% higher breast cancer risk in women who develop cardiovascular disease versus a 13% increase in those without heart disease.
• The onset of type 2 diabetes did not modify the link between higher BMI and breast cancer, with similar risk elevations regardless of diabetes status.
• Researchers pooled data on 168,547 postmenopausal women from the EPIC and UK Biobank cohorts, observing 6,793 breast cancer cases over median follow-ups of 10.7 and 10.9 years.
• Combining overweight (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2) with cardiovascular disease is estimated to cause 153 additional breast cancer cases per 100,000 women each year.
• Study authors recommend introducing risk-stratified breast cancer screening and including women with cardiovascular disease in weight-loss prevention trials.