Profiling and Determinants of Impaired Lipid Profile Parameters among Breast Cancer Women of Childbearing Age Living in Douala, Cameroon

Objective: Breast cancer in women of childbearing age (WCBA) is a major public health concern. This study aimed to determine variation and determinants in lipid profile among Cameroonian WCBA diagnosed with breast cancer. Materials and Methods: A case-control study took place at two reference hospitals in Douala, Cameroon. A total of 176 WCBA (88 cases and 88 controls) were finally enrolled. Interviewer-administered questionnaires were used to collect sociodemographic, behavioural, clinical and anthropometric data. Three millilitres of venous blood were collected for analysis of total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) and triglycerides (TG). Results: Overweight was predominantly seen in cases and controls. Serum levels of TC and LDL-c were significantly lower in cancer women (167.02 ± 45.46 vs 183.12 ± 27.38 mg/dL, p = 0.005 for TC; 85.83 ± 40.34 vs 105.25 ± 29.95 mg/dL, p = 0.0004 for LDL-c), while HDL-c levels were higher in controls (45.09 ± 7.20 vs 38.24 ± 11.14 mg/dL, p < 0.0001). Dyslipidaemia were mainly represented by hypo-HDL-cholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia. Lipid profiles were not modulated by clinical staging of cancer disease. The risk of impaired CT level was increased by more than seven times (AOR = 7.32, 95% CI 1.01 - 58.82) in alcohol drinkers and by ~seven times (AOR = 6.81, 95% CI 1.74 - 26.63) in women under contraception. Cancer women had 24 times more chances of hypo-HDL-cholesterolemia compared to controls (AOR = 24.23, 95% CI 5.06 - 116.00). Conclusion: This study suggests the influence of breast cancer on lipid profile parameters especially HDL-c and LDL-c, and possibly their putative clinical utility for early diagnosis in premenopausal women in Cameroon.