Reply: Smoking and hepatoblastoma: confounding by birth weight?
2003

Parental Smoking and Hepatoblastoma

publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): D. Pang, J. M. Birch

Primary Institution: Cancer Research UK, University of Manchester

Hypothesis

Does parental smoking contribute to the risk of hepatoblastoma, independent of low birth weight?

Conclusion

Parental smoking may play a role in the development of hepatoblastoma, but further studies are needed to confirm this association.

Supporting Evidence

  • Maternal smoking was associated with an odds ratio of 2.68.
  • Both parents smoking had an odds ratio of 4.74.
  • Maternal smoking in cases diagnosed at the median age or older had an odds ratio of 12.02.
  • After adjusting for low birth weight, maternal smoking had an odds ratio of 2.50.
  • Both parents smoking after adjustment had an odds ratio of 4.97.
  • Older children had an odds ratio of 12.66 after adjustment.

Takeaway

This study looks at whether parents smoking can cause a type of liver cancer in kids, and it suggests that smoking might be a problem, but we need to check more to be sure.

Methodology

The study analyzed self-reported data from parents of children with hepatoblastoma and population controls, adjusting for low birth weight, parental age, and deprivation.

Potential Biases

Potential bias due to reliance on self-reported data.

Limitations

The findings may have arisen by chance due to multiple statistical comparisons.

Participant Demographics

Parents of children with hepatoblastoma and population controls.

Statistical Information

P-Value

P<0.05

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1038/sj.bjc.6601144

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