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Adolescent behavior and adult health status in childhood cancer survivors

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Abstract

Introduction

This study examined the longitudinal association between adolescent psychological problems following cancer treatment and obesity, limited exercise, smoking, and excess sun exposure during adulthood in the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study cohort.

Methods

Participants included 1,652 adolescent survivors of childhood cancer and 406 siblings of cancer survivors, initially evaluated at 12–17 years of age and ≥ 5 years post-diagnosis. A follow-up survey of these participants was conducted roughly 7 years later and included assessment of health status and health behaviors. Logistic regression models were used to assess the association between adolescent psychological problems and adult health behavior outcomes.

Results

During adolescence, survivors demonstrated higher rates of attention deficits, emotional problems, externalizing behavior and social withdrawal compared to sibling controls. Social withdrawal was associated with adult obesity (OR = 1.5, 95% CI = 1.1–2.1) and physical inactivity (OR = 1.7, 1.1–2.5). Use of stimulant medication during adolescence was also associated with adult obesity (OR = 1.9, 1.1–3.2), while antidepressant use was associated with physical inactivity (OR = 3.2, 1.2–8.2).

Discussion/Conclusions

Adolescent survivors of childhood cancer display higher rates of psychological problems compared to siblings of cancer survivors. These psychological problems are associated with an increased risk for obesity and poor heath behavior in adulthood, which may increase future risk for chronic health conditions and secondary neoplasms.

Implications

In order to decrease risk of future health problems, adolescent survivors of childhood cancer should be routinely screened and treated for psychological problems following cancer therapy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Epidemiology and Cancer Control, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, MS 735, Memphis, TN, 38105-3678, USA

    Kevin R. Krull, Sujuan Huang, Kirsten K. Ness & Leslie L. Robison

  2. Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    James G. Gurney

  3. Department of Behavioral Medicine, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA

    James L. Klosky

  4. Department of Biostatistics, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA

    Wendy Leisenring

  5. Department of Pediatric Oncology, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA

    Amanda Termuhlen

  6. Department of Biostatistics, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA

    Deo Kumar Srivastava

  7. Department of Pediatrics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA

    Ann Mertens

  8. Department of Radiation Physics, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA

    Marilyn Stovall

  9. Department of Oncology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA

    Melissa M. Hudson

Authors
  1. Kevin R. Krull
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  2. Sujuan Huang
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  3. James G. Gurney
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  4. James L. Klosky
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  5. Wendy Leisenring
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  6. Amanda Termuhlen
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  7. Kirsten K. Ness
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  8. Deo Kumar Srivastava
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  9. Ann Mertens
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  10. Marilyn Stovall
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  11. Leslie L. Robison
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  12. Melissa M. Hudson
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kevin R. Krull.

Additional information

This work was supported by the National Cancer Institute (U24-CA55727, L. L. Robison) and the American Lebanese-Syrian Associated Charities (ALSAC). No authors report conflict of interest.

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Krull, K.R., Huang, S., Gurney, J.G. et al. Adolescent behavior and adult health status in childhood cancer survivors. J Cancer Surviv 4, 210–217 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-010-0123-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-010-0123-0

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