Body mass index in long-term adult survivors of childhood cancer: A report of the childhood cancer survivor study Journal Article


Authors: Meacham, L. R.; Gurney, J. G.; Mertens, A. C.; Ness, K. K.; Sklar, C. A.; Robison, L. L.; Oeffinger, K. C.
Article Title: Body mass index in long-term adult survivors of childhood cancer: A report of the childhood cancer survivor study
Abstract: BACKGROUND. The goals of the current study were to determine the distribution of body mass index (BMI) of survivors of common pediatric malignancies and to identify factors associated with abnormal BMI. METHODS. The Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (CCSS) is a multicenter cohort study of ≥ 5-year survivors of pediatric cancer diagnosed between 1970 and 1986. Self-reported heights and weights were used to calculate BMI for 7195 adult survivors, compared with population-based, age-specific, and gender-specific norms from the 1995 National Health Interview Survey. Underweight was defined as a BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 and obese as BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2. RESULTS. Survivors of leukemia were more likely to be obese (females: odds ratio [OR] = 1.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.2-1.8; males: OR = 1.2; 95% CI, 1.0-1.5). Survivors more likely to be underweight included female and male survivors of Hodgkin disease (OR = 1.7; 95% CI, 1.3-2.3 and OR = 3.5; 95% CI, 2.3-5.3) and Wilms tumor (OR = 1.8; 95% CI, 1.2-2.8 and OR = 5.5; 95% CI, 3.1-9.7), female survivors of bone carcinoma without amputation (OR = 1.9; 95% CI, 1.2-2.9), and male survivors of leukemia (OR = 2.4; 95% CI, 1.6-3.6), brain tumors (OR = 2.7; 95% CI, 1.6-4.4), non-Hodgkin lymphoma (OR = 3.1; 95% CI, 1.9-5.2), neuroblastoma (OR = 4.9; 95% CI, 2.48-10.0), and soft tissue sarcoma (OR = 3.5; 95% CI, 2.0-6.0). In females, treatment with total body irradiation, alkylating agents, and anthracyclines and in males, treatment with abdominal radiation, younger age at treatment, and treatment with anthracyclines and alkylating agents were associated with being underweight. Underweight survivors were more likely to report adverse health and major medical conditions. CONCLUSIONS. A significant proportion of childhood survivors of cancer are underweight as adults and the impact of this on the general health of survivors will need to be addressed further. © 2005 American Cancer Society.
Keywords: adolescent; adult; cancer survival; child; controlled study; child, preschool; middle aged; leukemia; retrospective studies; major clinical study; comparative study; neoplasms; cohort studies; cohort analysis; odds ratio; body weight; health survey; alkylating agent; sex ratio; childhood cancer; survivor; risk assessment; self report; survivors; confidence interval; survival time; body mass; body mass index; nonhodgkin lymphoma; whole body radiation; neuroblastoma; population; long term care; amputation; soft tissue sarcoma; malignant neoplastic disease; interview; body height; age distribution; anthracycline derivative; gender; time series analysis; bone cancer; underweight; calculation
Journal Title: Cancer
Volume: 103
Issue: 8
ISSN: 0008-543X
Publisher: Wiley Blackwell  
Date Published: 2005-04-15
Start Page: 1730
End Page: 1739
Language: English
DOI: 10.1002/cncr.20960
PUBMED: 15761876
PROVIDER: scopus
DOI/URL:
Notes: --- - "Cited By (since 1996): 57" - "Export Date: 24 October 2012" - "CODEN: CANCA" - "Source: Scopus"
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  1. Charles A Sklar
    322 Sklar