Considerable differences in obesity, comorbidities — but not treatment — seen between Black and White women<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/h3>\n <\/b><\/p>\n <\/b><\/p>\n MONDAY, Dec. 7, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For women with early breast cancer, there are considerable disparities in terms of obesity and comorbidity for Black and White women, according to a study published online Dec. 7 in Cancer<\/em>.<\/p>\n Kirsten A. Nyrop, Ph.D., from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and colleagues conducted a retrospective chart review to examine obesity and comorbidity in Black and White women with early breast cancer (stages I to III). Data were included for 548 patients: 26 and 74 percent Black and White, respectively.<\/p>\n The researchers found that 62 and 32 percent of Black and White patients, respectively, were obese. Overall, 75 and 87 percent of Black and White patients, respectively, had hormone receptor-positive (HR+) tumors. There were significant differences between the groups for having two or more comorbidities (62 percent of Blacks and 47 percent of Whites); two or more obesity-related comorbidities (33 versus 10 percent); hypertension (60 versus 32 percent); diabetes mellitus (23 versus 6 percent); hypercholesterolemia or hyperlipidemia (28 versus 18 percent); and hypothyroidism (4 versus 11 percent). No intergroup differences were seen for women with HR+\/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative tumors regarding type of surgery, chemotherapy regimen, radiation, or endocrine treatment.<\/p>\n “Findings from this study need to be considered within the larger context of the cancer-obesity link and the disparate impact of the obesity epidemic on communities of color in the United States,” Nyrop said in a statement.<\/p>\n Abstract\/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)<\/a><\/p>\n Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)<\/a><\/p>\n <\/i><\/p>\n