Profile of the BREATHE cohort for risk-based breast screening in Singapore
The BREAst screening Tailored for HEr (BREATHE) study was established to pilot a personalised, risk-based breast cancer screening programme for a multi-ethnic Asian population. Between October 2021 and December 2023, 4592 women aged 35-59 were enrolled (73% response rate). Follow-up from February 2022 to June 2024 included 4112 participants (8.6% loss to follow-up). Data collected encompassed demographics, lifestyle factors, reproductive risks, breast cancer awareness, screening behaviours, programme satisfaction, mammography outcomes (density and recall status), and genotype data. Above-average breast cancer risk increased with age: 2% in women aged 35-39, 31% in 40-49, and 42% in 50-59. Findings suggests that women valued the knowledge of their breast cancer risk and were motivated to attend mammography. The BREATHE study confirms the feasibility and acceptability of a personalised risk-based screening programme in a multi-ethnic Asian population, highlighting the value of tailored protocols to improve early detection and outcomes. Further details are available in the study protocol and online at https://blog.nus.edu.sg/breathe/ .
Authors
- Christopher Hang Liang Keh (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3261-2832)
- Pooja Jagmohan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8491-0375)
- Mikael Hartman (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5726-9965)
- Jingmei Li (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8587-7511)
- Han Boon Oh (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5268-6700)
- Zhi Peng Zhang
- Philip Iau (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1400-3379)
- Chi Hui Chin
- Su-Ann Goh (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0739-9125)
- Han Yang Ong (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6241-4132)
- Alexis Jiaying Khng (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1004-6048)
- Sujith Wijerathne (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5613-9816)
- Yonggeng Goh (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3149-0295)
- Premilla Pillay
- Peh Joo Ho (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3017-4023)
- Yi Wang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6878-4898)
- Jenny Liu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3929-0135)
- Swee Tian Quek (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7561-7492)
- Nur Khaliesah Mohamed Riza
- Ying Jia Chew
- Sing Cheer Kwek
- Desmond Luan Seng Ong
- Abrar Mohammed Alsunbul
- Fook Ming Hew (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9566-638X)
Institutions
- Agency for Science, Technology and Research (SG)
- SingHealth (SG)
- National University of Singapore (SG)
- Singapore General Hospital (SG)
- Ng Teng Fong General Hospital (SG)
- SingHealth Polyclinics (SG)
- National Cancer Centre Singapore (SG)
- National University Hospital (SG)
- National University Health System (SG)
- Dammam Central Hospital (SA)
- Genome Institute of Singapore (SG)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Scientific Reports
- Published
- 2025-10-10
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-19205-1
- Citations
- 2
- Primary Topic
- Global Cancer Incidence and Screening
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 2.09
Funders
- Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad
- National Healthcare Group