RESUMEN
Since the 1990 s discovery of BRCA1 and BRCA2 pathogenic variants in breast or ovarian cancer patients, genetic testing has been recommended as part of a targeted, individualized approach for cancer prevention and treatment in eligible individuals. The aim of this study was to assess trends in BRCA test rates and results among adult women aged 18 to 65 in the US between 2007 and 2017. Using Clinformatics© Data Mart (CDM) Electronic Health Records, we included 223,211 women 18-65 years old with documented BRCA testing results from 1/1/2007-9/30/2017. Positive results indicated the presence of pathogenic variantss. BRCA test rates increased significantly from 34 per 100,000 women in 2007 to 488 per 100,000 women in 2016 (APC 30.8, 95% confidence interval 26.6-35.1). Documented positive results decreased from 86.1% in 2007 to 78.0% in 2017(APC -0.6, 95% confidence interval -1.4-0.2). From 2007 to 2017, decreasing trends in the rates of documented positive results were observed among all three age groups (18-39, 40-54, and 55-65 years; largest in 40-54 group). In 2015-2017, women with positive test results were less likely to be non-Hispanic Whites, cancer patients, or living in the Northeast or an area with average household income ≥$50,000. Between 2007 and 2017, increasing use of BRCA testing for cancer prevention and treatment occurred, correlating to the observed decreasing documented positive test rate. The utilization of testing and corresponding test results differed significantly across races/ethnicities, suggestive of a divergent application of the same testing criteria.
RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: To examine whether frequent use of food labels is associated with weight loss behaviors among low-income reproductive-age women. METHODS: A self-administered survey of 1245 women aged 16 to 40 years assessed the frequency of food label use and weight loss behaviors during the past 12 months. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to examine the association between frequent use of food labels and weight loss behaviors after adjusting for confounders. RESULTS: Overall, 10.4% to 19.6% of women frequently used food labels to obtain information on different sections (ingredient list, nutrient claims, nutrition panel, serving size, or health claims), dietary components (calories, total fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, sodium/salt, fiber, sugar, vitamins, or minerals), and food products (desserts, snacks, frozen dinners, cereals, salad dressings, table spreads, or raw/processed meat). Women who used food labels frequently were more likely to engage in healthy weight loss behaviors compared to those who used them infrequently or did not use them at all. For example, the odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of "began to exercise/exercised more" for the 3 categories of food label use mentioned above were 2.24 and 1.65-3.04; 2.52 and 1.90-3.32; and 1.85 and 1.36-2.52, respectively. The odds of healthy weight loss behaviors were 2 to 4 times higher when food labels were used frequently to seek information on calories and nutrients such as total fat, saturated fat, or cholesterol. However, frequent food label users were also more likely to practice a few unhealthy weight loss behaviors, such as taking diet pills, medicines, herbs, or supplements without a prescription. CONCLUSIONS: Frequent use of food labels was associated with increased healthy weight loss behaviors among reproductive-age women, which can be incorporated into obesity preventive strategies with distinct awareness regarding unhealthy weight loss behaviors.