Day Care in Infancy and Risk of Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia: Findings from UK Case - Control Study

Eiman Hamid

Abstract: This is a critical appraisal of the article titled "Day care in infancy and risk of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia: findings from UK case - control study". This study aimed to explore the potential connection between early - life exposure to infections during infancy and its impact on the risk of developing Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia ALL. Using daycare attendance as a proxy for childhood infection exposure, this research delved into existing hypotheses, particularly Greavess hypothesis, to investigate whether reduced exposure to infections during early childhood heightens the likelihood of ALL development. The study included a large sample size of 3838 cases and 7629 controls, obtained from pediatric oncology units and national registers. The methodology involved careful matching for various factors and adjusting for confounders. Results showed a significant association between reduced exposure to infections and increased ALL risk, meeting Bradford Hills criteria for causality. Despite some limitations in the methodology, this research contributes valuable insights into the relationship between childhood infections and ALL risk. Further investigations are warranted to validate these findings and address remaining uncertainties in this complex association.

Keywords: Early - life infections, Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, Daycare attendance, Childhood infections, Case - control study

How to Cite?: Eiman Hamid, "Day Care in Infancy and Risk of Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia: Findings from UK Case - Control Study", Volume 12 Issue 10, October 2023, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 1160-1162, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR231014172601, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR231014172601