Use of glucocorticoids and risk of breast cancer: a Danish population-based case-control study

Breast Cancer Research

Table 4 Any glucocorticoid use and odds ratio of breast cancer stratified by age group as a conservative estimate of menopausal status

Characteristics	Cases (N= 9,488)		Controls^a (N= 94,876)		Odds Ratio^b	95% Confidence Interval
	N	%	N	%
Age < 45 (pre-menopausal)
Never use	744	83	7,353	81	reference	reference
Ever use
≤ 2 prescriptions	98	11	1000	11	0.97^c	0.78, 1.2^c
> 2 prescriptions	57	6.4	719	7.9	0.83^c	0.61, 1.1^c
Age 45 - 55 (peri-menopausal)
Never use	1,488	77	14,450	76	reference	reference
Ever use
≤ 2 prescriptions	248	13	2,757	14	0.86	0.75, 0.99
> 2 prescriptions	196	10	1,901	10	0.96	0.80, 1.1
Age > 55 (post-menopausal)
Never use	4,460	67	46,261	69	reference	reference
Ever use
≤ 2 prescriptions	1,106	17	10,134	15	1.1	1.0, 1.2
> 2 prescriptions	1,091	16	10,301	15	1.1	0.98, 1.1

^aControls were matched to cases on county of residence and birth year. ^bAnalysis was adjusted for any use of postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy or 'other immunosuppressive drugs' before index date and any hospital diagnosis of obesity, diabetes (+/- metformin use), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis or 'other autoimmune disease' before the index date. ^c Analyses were additionally adjusted for parity and age at first birth. Without the additional adjustment the adjusted odds ratios for ≤ 2 or > 2 prescriptions were 0.97 (95% CI: 0.77, 1.2) and 0.83 (95% CI: 0.61, 1.1), respectively.

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