Body size in different periods of life, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and risk of postmenopausal endometrial cancer (Sweden)

Objective: To measure the association between endometrial cancer risk and o besity at age 18 and recently, adult weight gain, diabetes mellitus and hyp ertension. Methods: We performed a population-based, nationwide case-control study amo ng postmenopausal women aged 50-74 years in Sweden, including 709 incident cases with histopathologically verified endometrial cancer and 3368 control s. Results: Compared to lean women (recent body mass index (BMI), i.e. kg/m(2) below 22.5), overweight women (recent BMI 28-29.99) had a 50% increase in risk for endometrial cancer (OR 1.5, 95% CI 1.0-2.1). Obese women (recent B MI 30-33.99) had a 3-fold increased risk (OR 2.9, 95% CI 2.0-4.0), and mark edly obese women (recent BMI greater than or equal to 34) a 6-fold increase d risk (OR 6.3, 95% CI 4.2-9.5). The OR for Type 2 diabetes mellitus was 1. 5 (95% CI 1.0-2.1) and for Type 1 diabetes mellitus it was 13.3 (3.1-56.4). The effect of recent BMI was similar for tumors having different degrees o f differentiation and myometrial invasion, and did not vary with age, time since menopause, smoking status, diabetes mellitus, and use of contraceptiv es. Hypertension increased risk only among obese women. BMI at age 18, heig ht, and adult weight change were not independent risk factors. Conclusions: Recent overweight/obesity and diabetes mellitus (Types 1 and 2 ) are associated with endometrial cancer risk. Hypertension increases risk among obese women.