BACKGROUND: Associations between birth defects (BDs) and childhood cancers have been studied previously and have identified several specific birth defect-cancer associations. No studies have examined the risk after exclusion of known associations. METHODS: We analyzed data from high-quality population-based registers of BDs and cancers for Western Australian births 1982 to 2007. The cohort comprised 641,036 babies still alive at 90 days. Two experts independently reviewed all 120 births with a BD and a cancer to determine whether the cancer was congenital, caused by the BD, known to be associated with the BD or otherwise. These categories were used in sensitivity analyses. Cox regression was used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) for any cancer and specific cancers associated with any BD and specific BDs. RESULTS: The HR for any cancer among children with any BD was 1.96 (95% confidence interval, 1.59-2.43). The HR for any cancer among children with a BD not known to be related to a cancer (n = 57) was 1.19 (95% confidence interval, 0.91-1.56). The HR for the latter association among children diagnosed with cancer before 5 years of age was 1.74 (95% confidence interval, 1.28-2.37). CONCLUSION: This novel approach aimed to prevent inflated HRs arising from reverse causation, and allow identification of associations beyond those already well documented. Larger studies using this method are needed to explore currently undocumented associations between BDs and cancers.
BACKGROUND: Associations between birth defects (BDs) and childhood cancers have been studied previously and have identified several specific birth defect-cancer associations. No studies have examined the risk after exclusion of known associations. METHODS: We analyzed data from high-quality population-based registers of BDs and cancers for Western Australian births 1982 to 2007. The cohort comprised 641,036 babies still alive at 90 days. Two experts independently reviewed all 120 births with a BD and a cancer to determine whether the cancer was congenital, caused by the BD, known to be associated with the BD or otherwise. These categories were used in sensitivity analyses. Cox regression was used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) for any cancer and specific cancers associated with any BD and specific BDs. RESULTS: The HR for any cancer among children with any BD was 1.96 (95% confidence interval, 1.59-2.43). The HR for any cancer among children with a BD not known to be related to a cancer (n = 57) was 1.19 (95% confidence interval, 0.91-1.56). The HR for the latter association among children diagnosed with cancer before 5 years of age was 1.74 (95% confidence interval, 1.28-2.37). CONCLUSION: This novel approach aimed to prevent inflated HRs arising from reverse causation, and allow identification of associations beyond those already well documented. Larger studies using this method are needed to explore currently undocumented associations between BDs and cancers.
Authors: Kimberly J Johnson; Jong Min Lee; Kazi Ahsan; Hannah Padda; Qianxi Feng; Sonia Partap; Susan A Fowler; Todd E Druley Journal: PLoS One Date: 2017-07-27 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Amanda E Janitz; Barbara R Neas; Janis E Campbell; Anne E Pate; Julie A Stoner; Sheryl L Magzamen; Jennifer D Peck Journal: Birth Defects Res A Clin Mol Teratol Date: 2016-03-04
Authors: Neimar de Paula Silva; Rejane de Souza Reis; Rafael Garcia Cunha; Júlio Fernando Pinto Oliveira; Marceli de Oliveira Santos; Maria S Pombo-de-Oliveira; Beatriz de Camargo Journal: PLoS One Date: 2016-10-21 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Dagrun Slettebø Daltveit; Kari Klungsøyr; Anders Engeland; Anders Ekbom; Mika Gissler; Ingrid Glimelius; Tom Grotmol; Laura Madanat-Harjuoja; Anne Gulbech Ording; Solbjørg Makalani Myrtveit Sæther; Henrik Toft Sørensen; Rebecca Troisi; Tone Bjørge Journal: BMJ Date: 2020-12-02