TITLE:
Increasing BMI Z-Scores 3 Years after Diagnosis among a Multiethnic Cohort of Childhood Cancer Survivors Treated in South Los Angeles
AUTHORS:
Sonia Morales, Moran Gotesman, Emily M. Su, Jennifer K. Yee, Maritza E. Ruiz, Scott Friedlander, Joseph L. Lasky III, Eduard H. Panosyan
KEYWORDS:
Pediatric Cancer Survivorship, Obesity, Health Disparities, Long-Term Side Effects, Hispanic Health
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Biosciences and Medicines,
Vol.10 No.3,
March
14,
2022
ABSTRACT: Background: Due to successful treatment modalities, the majority of pediatric cancer patients will survive. Increased body mass index (BMI) is a complication among pediatric cancer survivors. Methods: This retrospective single-center study examined BMI changes among a cohort of predominantly Hispanic patients who were treated in South Los Angeles. Data were collected at diagnosis, 1, 2 and 3 years after. Analyses included z-scores derived from calculated BMIs compared over 3 years per gender, diagnosis, and treatment modality. The unhealthy BMI z-score was defined as >1.04. Results: Thirty-four percent of the predominantly Hispanic sample had unhealthy BMI z-scores of >1.04 correlating to at or greater than the 85th percentile for age and gender. The study cohort’s BMI z-scores significantly increased from 0.15 to 1.29 at year 3 (P