Paternal Smoking and Childhood Leukemia Risk
Author Information
Author(s): Ruiling Liu, Luoping Zhang, Cliona M. McHale, S. Katharine Hammond
Primary Institution: University of California, Berkeley
Hypothesis
Is there an association between paternal smoking and the risk of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)?
Conclusion
The evidence supports a positive association between childhood ALL and paternal ever smoking and at each exposure time period examined.
Supporting Evidence
- The summary odds ratio of childhood ALL associated with paternal smoking was 1.11.
- Paternal smoking preconception was associated with a summary odds ratio of 1.25.
- Paternal smoking during pregnancy had a summary odds ratio of 1.24.
Takeaway
Dads who smoke might make their kids more likely to get a type of cancer called leukemia.
Methodology
The study performed a meta-analysis of 18 published epidemiologic studies that reported data on paternal smoking and childhood ALL risk.
Potential Biases
There is a potential for publication bias as studies with significant results may be more likely to be published.
Limitations
The studies included had varying definitions of exposure and potential confounding factors were not always adjusted for.
Participant Demographics
The studies included cases of childhood leukemia diagnosed in various countries, with ages ranging from 0 to 18 years.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Confidence Interval
95% CI: 1.05–1.18
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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