Table 4 Comparison of case patients with first myocardial infarction (MI) after breast cancer vs case patients with MI before and after breast cancer

From: Myocardial infarction risk and tamoxifen therapy for breast cancer

 

Case patients with first MI after breast cancer ( n =134)

Cases with MI before and after breast cancer ( n =35)

 

Characteristic

N (%)

N (%)

P

Year of breast cancer diagnosis

  

0.18

 1980–1984

40 (29.9)

5 (14.3)

 

 1985–1989

49 (36.6)

12 (34.3)

 

 1990–1994

27 (20.2)

11 (31.4)

 

 1995–1998

18 (13.4)

7 (20.0)

 

Years between initial breast cancer and post-breast cancer MI diagnosis

  

0.011

 <1

22 (16.4)

11 (31.4)

 

 1–3

34 (25.4)

11 (31.4)

 

 4–6

26 (19.4)

7 (20.0)

 

 7–9

17 (12.7)

6 (17.1)

 

10

35 (26.1)

0 (0.0)

 

MI classification

  

0.62

 Definite

72 (53.7)

18 (51.4)

 

 Probable

22 (16.4)

4 (11.4)

 

 Immediate fatalitya

40 (29.9)

13 (37.1)

 

Age at breast cancer diagnosis (years)

  

0.13

 <50

10 (7.5)

1 (2.9)

 

 50–59

23 (17.2)

1 (2.9)

 

 60–69

46 (34.3)

13 (37.1)

 

 70–79

42 (31.3)

14 (40.0)

 

 >80

13 (9.7)

6 (17.1)

 

Race/ethnicity

  

0.072

 Black

19 (14.2)

6 (17.1)

 

 White

97 (72.4)

29 (82.9)

 

 Other/unknown

18 (13.4)

0 (0.0)

 

Oral contraceptive use ever

  

0.12

 No

93 (69.4)

21 (60.0)

 

 Yes

25 (18.7)

5 (14.3)

 

 Unknown

16 (11.9)

9 (25.7)

 

Use of oestrogen and/or hormone replacement therapy ever

  

0.83

 No

60 (44.8)

14 (40.0)

 

 Yes

69 (51.5)

20 (57.1)

 

 Unknown

5 (3.7)

1 (2.9)

 

Smoking status at MI

  

0.004

 Never

70 (52.2)

9 (25.7)

 

 Ever

59 (44.0)

21 (60.0)

 

 Unknown

5 (3.7)

5 (14.3)

 

History of hypertension

  

0.091

 No

34 (25.4)

3 (8.6)

 

 Yes, no medication

7 (5.2)

3 (8.6)

 

 Yes, medication

93 (69.4)

29 (82.9)

 

History of diabetes

  

0.18

 No

88 (65.7)

1 (48.6)

 

 Yes, no medication

8 (6.0)

3 (8.6)

 

 Yes, medication

38 (28.4)

15 (42.9)

 

History of hypocholesterolemia

  

0.82

 No

68 (50.8)

16 (45.7)

 

 Yes, no medication

34 (25.4)

9 (25.7)

 

 Yes, medication

32 (23.9)

10 (28.6)

 

Stage at diagnosis

  

0.99

 Localised

89 (66.4)

23 (65.7)

 

 Regional

38 (28.4)

10 (28.6)

 

 Distant/unstageable

7 (5.2)

2 (5.7)

 

Oestrogen receptor status

  

0.26

 Negative

20 (14.9)

2 (5.7)

 

 Positive or borderline

86 (64.2)

27 (77.1)

 

 Not done

28 (20.9)

6 (17.1)

 

Progesterone receptor status

  

0.17

 Negative

33 (24.6)

5 (14.3)

 

 Positive or borderline

61 (45.5)

22 (62.9)

 

 Not done

40 (29.9)

8 (22.9)

 

Tamoxifen and radiation therapy

  

0.15

 Neither

52 (38.8)

8 (22.9)

 

 Radiation therapy only

13 (9.7)

2 (5.7)

 

 Tamoxifen only

49 (36.6)

20 (57.1)

 

 Both

20 (14.9)

5 (14.3)

 
  1. a Cases identified from death certificate only; no diagnostic work-up to permit classification.