Table 4.
Mean Duration of Symptoms (in Months) in the Year Before Diagnosis of Ovarian Cancer by Prediagnosis Body Mass Index Categories, the African American Cancer Epidemiology Study
| BMI categories (kg/m2) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Symptom | All | <25 | 25–<30 | 30–<35 | ≥35 | p Trenda |
| Pelvic/abdominal discomfort | ||||||
| Mean duration (months) | 5.6 | 4.1 | 5.9 | 5.8 | 6.0 | |
| p-Valueb | Ref | 0.11 | 0.11 | 0.068 | 0.26 | |
| Bowel irregularity | ||||||
| Mean duration (months) | 5.6 | 3.7 | 5.4 | 5.0 | 6.1 | |
| p-Value | Ref | 0.057 | 0.13 | 0.006 | 0.005 | |
| Urinary symptoms | ||||||
| Mean duration (months) | 5.1 | 3.0 | 6.1 | 5.0 | 5.2 | |
| p-Value | Ref | 0.011 | 0.10 | 0.089 | 0.38 | |
| Distended or hard abdomen | ||||||
| Mean duration (months) | 4.3 | 3.1 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.7 | |
| p-Value | Ref | 0.14 | 0.11 | 0.070 | 0.04 | |
| Lump in abdomen | ||||||
| Mean duration (months) | 4.2 | 3.5 | 2.8 | 4.7 | 5.7 | |
| p-Value | Ref | 0.57 | 0.30 | 0.078 | 0.01 | |
| Fatigue or loss of appetite | ||||||
| Mean duration (months) | 4.9 | 3.4 | 4.4 | 4.8 | 5.8 | |
| p-Value | Ref | 0.29 | 0.12 | 0.007 | 0.03 | |
| Side or back pain | ||||||
| Mean duration (months) | 5.7 | 3.7 | 5.7 | 6.3 | 5.7 | |
| p-Value | Ref | 0.089 | 0.028 | 0.010 | 0.40 | |
| Abnormal vaginal bleeding | ||||||
| Mean duration (months) | 5.8 | 4.8 | 6.1 | 5.4 | 6.5 | |
| p-Value | Ref | 0.66 | 0.86 | 0.49 | 0.95 | |
| Weight gain/swelling | ||||||
| Mean duration (months) | 5.5 | 4.3 | 5.8 | 4.6 | 6.4 | |
| p-Value | Ref | 0.19 | 0.73 | 0.045 | 0.05 | |
| Nausea/vomiting/indigestion | ||||||
| Mean duration (months) | 5.3 | 2.8 | 5.3 | 4.8 | 6.4 | |
| p-Value | Ref | 0.44 | 0.24 | 0.022 | 0.02 | |
| Any symptomc | ||||||
| Mean duration (months) | 7.0 | 5.3 | 7.1 | 6.6 | 7.9 | |
| p-Value | Ref | 0.001 | 0.23 | 0.058 | 0.01 | |
a
p-Value for trend calculated from multivariable model that included terms for BMI, age, and Charlson comorbidity index as continuous variables, and education, duration of oral contraceptive use, number of pregnancies, history of pelvic inflammatory disease, and marital status as categorical variables.
b
p-Values derived from linear regression models adjusted for age.
c
Mean duration for the symptom reported for longest period of time for each woman.
Bold type indicates statistically significant associations.