Sugar-Sweetened Soda Consumption and Total and Breast Cancer Mortality: The Western New York Exposures and Breast Cancer (WEB) Study
Nadia Koyratty,
Background:There is growing evidence of an association between sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) and increased risk of mortality in various populations. However, SSB influence on mortality among breast cancer patients is unknown. Methods:We assessed the relationship between sugar-sweetened soda and both all-cause and breast cancer mortality among women with incident, invasive breast cancer from the Western New York Exposures and Breast Cancer (WEB) Study. Breast cancer cases were followed for a median of 18.7 years, with ascertainment of vital status via the National Death Index (NDI). Frequency of sugar-sweetened soda consumption was determined via a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Cox proportional hazards, adjusting for relevant variables, were used to estimate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results:Of the 927 breast cancer cases, 386 (54.7%) had died by the end of follow-up. Compared to never/rarely sugar-sweetened soda drinkers, consumption at {greater than or equal to} 5 times per week was associated with increased risk of both total (HR=1.62, 95% CI: 1.16, 2.26, p-trend<0.01) and breast cancer mortality (HR=1.85, 95% CI: 1.16, 2.94; p-trend<0.01). Risk of mortality was similarly increased among ER-positive, but not ER-negative patients, among women with BMI above the median, but not below the median; and among pre-, but not post-menopausal women for total mortality only.
Conclusions:Reported higher frequency of sugar-sweetened soda intake was associated with increased risks of total and breast cancer mortality among breast cancer patients.
Impact:These results support existing guidelines on reducing consumption of SSB, including for women with a diagnosis of breast cancer.