High body mass index and high body fat percentage increase risk of meningioma among menopausal women

Abstract

Background: Meningiomas are the most common primary brain tumors. One known risk factor for meningioma is exposure to estrogen hormone. Body mass index (BMI) and high body fat percentage have been found to be associated with increased production of estrogen hormone particularly among menopausal women. This study was conducted to determine the effect of BMI and body fat percentage with increased risk of meningioma in menopausal women. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study which selected its subject using consecutive non-probability sampling method at Neurosurgery Department of Dr. Hasan Sadikin Hospital Bandung from December 2018 to November 2019. A total of 50 subjects were categorized into two groups, the menopausal and premenopausal groups consisting of 25 subjects each. Results: Menopausal women whose BMI was above the normal reference range had a 2.95 times greater risk of suffering from meningioma compared to those with normal BMI, and 1.312 times greater risk (95% CI 0.934-1.84) when compared to premenopausal women having higher-than-normal BMI. High body fat percentage in menopausal women was found to increase the risk of developing meningioma for up to 2.49 times compared with those with normal body fat percentage and had 1.36-time greater risk (95% CI 0.901 – 2.051) compared to premenopausal women with normal body percentage. Conclusion: Menopausal women with higher BMI and body fat percentage were at increased risk of developing meningioma for up to 1.3 times compared to premenopausal women with higher BMI and body fat percentage and nearly 2.5 – 3 times higher risk compared to menopausal women with normal BMI and body fat percentage.