Risk factors of childhood leukemia

• Main Authors: Paulina K. Bangun, Bidasari Lubis, Sri Sofyani, Nelly Rosdiana, Olga R. Siregar
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Indonesian Pediatric Society Publishing House 2014-12-01
• Series: Paediatrica Indonesiana
• Subjects: childhood leukemia, birth weight, parental age, risk factors
• Online Access: https://paediatricaindonesiana.org/index.php/paediatrica-indonesiana/article/view/1239

Background The incidence of childhood leukemia has increased annually. Recent studies have shown that childhood leukemia is initiated in utero, and have focused on prenatal risk factors such as birth weight and parental age. Exposure to pesticides and radiation, as well as parental smoking, breastfeeding, and the number of older siblings have also been sugges ted as risk factors for childhood leukemia. Objective To evaluate possible risk factors for childhood leukemia, including birth weight, parental age, and other risk factors. Methods This case-con trol study was conducted from October 2011 to February 2012 in Haji Adam Malik Hospital, Medan . Case subjects were children aged below 18 years and diagnosed with leukemia. Control subjects were children aged below 18 years who were diagnosed with any non-cancerous acute illnesses in this hospital, and individually matched for age and gen der to the case subject group. Patients and parents were asked to fill a structured questionnaire. Data was analyzed using conditional logistic regression . Results A total of 140 subjects were eligible, with 70 subjects in each group. Birth weight 2: 4000 g and maternal age 2:35 years were significant risk factors with OR 10.13 (95%CI 1.124 to 91.2 7) and OR 4.98 (95%CI 1.276 to 19.445), respectively. Paternal age of 2:35 years was not a significant risk factor. Exposure to pesticides was also noted as another significant risk factor (OR= 6.66; 95%CI 2.021 to 21.966) . Conclusion High birth weight, advan ced maternal age, and exposure to pesticides are risk factors of childhood leukemia.