Mammographic Density Distribution in Ras Al Khaimah (RAK): Relationships with Demographic and Reproductive Factors

Objective: Mammographic density is an important risk factor for breast cancer and determines to a large extent mammographic screening efficacy. This study aims to provide baseline data for mammographic density profiling of women living in Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) and to identify risk factors associated with high mammographic density. Methods: A cross-sectional design was used to examine a series of 366 mammography cases. The Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS, 5th edition) was used to evaluate mammographic density. Pearson’s chi-squared, Mann-Whitney U test and multivariate logistic regression were used for statistical analysis. Results: Most participants (67%) fell into BI-RADS b and c mammographic density categories. Of the total sample, women who were aged ≤ 45 years (p=0.004, OR=1.9), weighed ≤ 71kg (p=<0.0001, OR=4.8), had a body mass index of ≤ 27 kg/m2 (p=<0.0001, OR=5.1) and were of non-Arab descent (p=0.007, OR=1.8) were significantly more likely to have denser breast tissue. Adjusted ethnicity regression analysis showed that Emirati women were significantly less likely to have dense breast tissue compared with Western women (p=0.04, OR=0.4). Among the sample of survey participants, increased odds of having mammographic density were among women who were full-time workers (p=0.02, OR=2.8), of Christian faith (p=0.007, OR=4.4), nulliparous (p=0.003, OR=10.8), had three or fewer children (p=0.03, OR=3.8), and had used oral contraceptives for three years or more (p=0.01, OR=6.1). Conclusion: This study indicated that because Emirati women have a low mammographic density profile, screening mammography can be considered as an effective early detection imaging modality.