Table 2.

Hepcidin levels according to patient and tumor characteristics

Variable	Hepcidin (ng/mL)		p-value
	Median	IQR
All patients	16.3	(11.9, 28.3)	–
Age (years)
< 50	13.6	(10.6, 18.3)	< 0.01
≥ 50	23.8	(15.8, 39.7)
Body mass index (kg/m2)
≤ 25	14.5	(11.4, 23.2)	< 0.01
25–30	18.1	(13.6, 28.3)
> 30	21.8	(12.9, 39.7)
Menopausal status
Pre	13.5	(10.5, 17.0)	< 0.01
Peri/post	24.6	(16.7, 39.9)
Tumor grade
3	16.8	(11.8, 30.6)	0.87
2 or 1	16.7	(12.1, 28.0)
T-stage
X, 2, 3	15.6	(11.6, 30.3)	0.96
1	16.7	(12.1, 25.9)
Nodal status
Positive	16.9	(11.8, 31.3)	0.47
Negative	16.0	(12.0, 25.9)
Hormone receptor status
ER and/or PR positive	15.3	(11.3, 24.7)	0.01
ER and PR negative	19.9	(13.0, 33.7)
Adjuvant chemotherapy
Yes	14.7	(11.3, 25.4)	0.02
No	17.5	(12.2, 30.5)
Adjuvant radiation
Yes	17.6	(12.9, 30.4)	< 0.01
No	14.0	(10.7, 21.5)
Adjuvant hormone therapy
Yes	20.5	(13.5, 36.5)	< 0.01
No	14.6	(11.1, 22.9)
Primary surgery
Mastectomy	12.8	(10.4, 18.2)	< 0.01
Lumpectomy	17.7	(12.9, 30.7)