Background: Sexual minority women (SMW) may experience elevated breast cancer risk, yet limited research has assessed the utility of the Gail breast cancer risk model in this population. Using data from screening mammography patients at an urban health center specializing in sexual minority health, we calculated and compared Gail risk scores of SMW with heterosexual women and identified factors associated with elevated risk.
Methods: This retrospective study reviewed medical records from all patients who underwent screening mammography during 12 months (2013-2014) at a federally qualified community health center in the Northeast United States. Descriptive statistics compared risk scores and other characteristics of patients reporting female only or female and male sex partners ("SMW") with patients reporting only male sex partners ("heterosexual"). Linear regression identified correlates of increased lifetime risk.
Findings: Among 423 patients, SMW (n=162) were more likely to be nulliparous than heterosexual women (79% vs. 40%; p<.01) and had significantly higher lifetime Gail scores (10.7% vs. 8.9%; p<.01). In multivariable regression, being SMW was independently associated with 1.43% higher lifetime Gail scores (95% CI, 0.69%-2.17%), and having private health insurance was associated with 1.52% higher lifetime Gail scores (95% CI, 0.62-2.42).
Conclusions: Using the Gail model to assess breast cancer risk routinely in a clinical setting is feasible. Risk scores may be higher among SMW, who are more likely to be nulliparous, and among patients who are privately insured. Additional research on breast cancer risk assessment among SMW is needed.
Copyright © 2015 Jacobs Institute of Women's Health. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.