Maternal Illnesses During Pregnancy and Childhood Cancer Risk
Author Information
Author(s): Audrey Bonaventure, Jill Simpson, Eleanor Kane, Eve Roman
Primary Institution: Université Paris Cité, Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, INSERM, INRAE
Hypothesis
Is there a relationship between maternal illnesses during pregnancy and the risk of childhood cancer?
Conclusion
The study found an association between maternal anaemia during pregnancy and an increased risk of childhood acute myeloid leukaemia and certain embryonal tumours.
Supporting Evidence
- Maternal anaemia was associated with childhood acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) with an odds ratio of 2.07.
- Urinary tract infections were linked to non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL).
- Preeclampsia was associated with NHL.
- Polyhydramnios was recorded more frequently in mothers of children with AML and NHL.
Takeaway
Moms who had anaemia while pregnant might have a higher chance of their kids getting certain types of cancer.
Methodology
The study used data from medical records of mothers and their children diagnosed with cancer, comparing cases with controls.
Potential Biases
Recall bias was minimized by using medical records instead of maternal self-reports.
Limitations
Some associations were based on small numbers, and the study could not rule out all potential confounding factors.
Participant Demographics
Children aged 0-14 years, with a mix of cases and controls from England and North Wales.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.02
Confidence Interval
[1.40–3.08]
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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