A greater birthweight increases the risk of acute leukemias in Mexican children—experience from the Mexican Interinstitutional Group for the Identification of the Causes of Childhood Leukemia (MIGICCL)
Authors: Jiménez‐Hernández Elva , Fajardo‐Gutiérrez Arturo , Núñez‐Enriquez Juan Carlos , Martín‐Trejo Jorge Alfonso , Espinoza‐Hernández Laura Eugenia , Flores‐Lujano Janet , Arellano‐Galindo José , Medina‐Sanson Aurora , Paredes‐Aguilera Rogelio , Merino‐Pasaye Laura Elizabeth , Velázquez‐Aviña Martha Margarita , Torres‐Nava José Refugio , Espinosa‐Elizondo Rosa Martha , Amador‐Sánchez Raquel , Dosta‐Herrera Juan José , Mondragón‐García Javier Anastacio , Valdés‐Guzmán Heriberto , Mejía‐Pérez Laura , Espinoza‐Anrubio Gilberto , Paz‐Bribiesca María Minerva , Salcedo‐Lozada Perla , Landa‐García Rodolfo Ángel , Ramírez‐Colorado Rosario , Hernández‐Mora Luis , Pérez‐Saldivar María Luisa , Santamaría‐Ascencio Marlene , López‐Loyola Anselmo , Godoy‐Esquivel Arturo Hermilo , García‐López Luis Ramiro , Anguiano‐Ávalos Alison Ireri , Mora‐Rico Karina , Castañeda‐Echevarría Alejandro , Rodríguez‐Jiménez Roberto , Cibrian‐Cruz José Alberto , Solís‐Labastida Karina Anastacia , Cárdenas‐Cardos Rocío , Martínez‐Avalos Armando , Flores‐Villegas Luz Victoria , Peñaloza‐González José Gabriel , González‐Ávila Ana Itamar , Altamirano‐García Martha Beatriz , López‐Santiago Norma , Sánchez‐Ruiz Martin , Rivera‐Luna Roberto , Rodríguez‐Villalobos Luis Rodolfo , Hernández‐Pérez Francisco , Olvera‐Durán Jaime Ángel , García‐Cortés Luis Rey , Mata‐Rocha Minerva , Sepúlveda‐Robles Omar Alejandro , González‐Bonilla Cesar Raúl , Bekker‐Méndez Vilma Carolina , Jiménez‐Morales Silvia , Rosas‐Vargas Haydee , Mejía‐Aranguré Juan Manuel 
Published: March 2018

In Mexico, due to the high rates of diabetes, overweight, and obesity, there has also been noted an increased newborn weight, which may be contributing to the elevated incidence rate of childhood acute leukemia (AL). We conducted a case–control study in public hospitals of Mexico City aimed to know whether a greater weight at birth is associated with a higher risk of developing leukemia. We included incident cases with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) diagnosed between 2010 and 2015. Controls were frequency‐matched to the cases by age, sex, and health institution. Logistic regression analysis was performed adjusting risks by child's sex, overcrowding index, birth order, and mother's age at the time of pregnancy. Adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and 95% confidence intervals were calculated. A total of 1455 cases and 1455 controls were included. An evident association between ALL and child's birthweight ≥2500 g was found (aOR 2.06; 95% CI: 1.59, 2.66) and also, in those with birthweight ≥3500 g (aOR 1.19; 95% CI: 1.00, 1.41). In AML patients with birthweight ≥2500 g and ≥3500 g, an aOR of 1.77 (95% CI: 1.07, 2.94) and 1.42 (95% CI: 1.03–1.95) was observed, respectively. No association was noticed with either type of AL and a birthweight ≥4000 g. To sum up, we found a moderate association between not having a low birthweight and an increased risk of acute leukemias. Birthweight ≥3500 g was also a risk factor for both types of leukemia. This suggests that a greater birthweight may increase the risk of acute leukemias in Mexican children.