Abstract
Background
Obesity is related to an increased risk of several forms of cancer. However, findings
from studies on haematological malignancies are inconsistent.
Methods
We used prospectively collected data from two Swedish twin cohorts and the Finnish
Twin Cohort (in total 70,067 persons) to study the effects of overweight and obesity
on the development of leukaemia, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, Hodgkin’s lymphoma and myeloma.
The cohorts were followed from baseline through 2002 (Sweden) and through 2004 (Finland).
Results
We found a risk increase of myeloma with a relative risk (RR) of 2.1 (95% confidence
interval [CI] 1.1–3.7) among obese persons, a RR of 2.5 (1.0–6.2) for chronic myeloid
leukaemia and a RR of 2.7 (0.8–9.6) for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia among overweight
persons as compared to normal-weighted ones.
Conclusions
Our results add further evidence suggesting that overweight and obesity may have an
impact on some haematological malignancies, in particular myeloma.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: December 17, 2008
Accepted:
November 6,
2008
Received in revised form:
October 27,
2008
Received:
July 5,
2008
Identification
Copyright
© 2008 Elsevier Ltd. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
