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Research Article
Obesity in long-term survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Article first published online: 12 MAR 2008
DOI: 10.1002/pbc.21496
Copyright © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
1545-5017/asset/cover.gif?v=1&s=a75210663ec4a312a5bd8e3022f1967dde569328 "Pediatric Blood & Cancer")
Additional Information
How to Cite
Asner, S., Ammann, R., Ozsahin, H., Beck-Popovic, M. and von der Weid, N. (2008), Obesity in long-term survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Pediatric Blood & Cancer, 51: 118–122. doi: 10.1002/pbc.21496
Publication History
- Issue published online: 7 MAY 2008
- Article first published online: 12 MAR 2008
- Manuscript Accepted: 6 DEC 2007
- Manuscript Received: 20 SEP 2007
- Abstract
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Keywords:
- childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia;
- obesity;
- overweight;
- prevalence;
- risk factors
Abstract
Background
Childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) with current cure rates reaching 80% emphasizes the necessity to determine treatment related long-term effects. The present study examines the prevalence of and the risk factors for overweight and obesity in a cohort of ALL survivors treated and living in the French speaking part of Switzerland.
Methods
In this retrospective two-center study, height and weight of 54 patients diagnosed with ALL in first complete remission and treated with chemotherapy only were recorded at specified time points during treatment and off-therapy. Body mass index (BMI) and its age- and gender-adjusted standard deviation score (BMI-SDS) were calculated for the patients and their parents separately. Overweight and obesity were defined by a threshold of BMI-SDS >1.645 and BMI-SDS >1.96, respectively.
Results
At last follow-up, 16 (30%) of the 54 survivors were overweight and 10 (18%) were obese. The off-treatment period was most at risk with 11 of the 16 becoming overweight and 9 of the 10 becoming obese during that period. Overweight/obesity at diagnosis and abnormal maternal BMI were significantly associated with abnormal weight at follow-up, while age at diagnosis, gender, cumulative dose of steroids and paternal BMI showed no association.
Conclusions
Consistent with published evidence from other regions of the developed and developing world, there is a significant prevalence of obesity in young ALL survivors in the French speaking part of Switzerland. Factors significantly associated with this late effect were mostly related to the familial background rather than to the treatment components. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2008;51:118–122. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.