Morbidity and health care use among siblings of children with cancer: A population‐based study

Abstract

Background Childhood cancer impacts the entire family unit. We sought to investigate its impact on the long‐term physical health outcomes of siblings of children with cancer. Procedure Pediatric cancer patients diagnosed in Ontario, Canada between 1988 and 2016 were linked to biological siblings. Sibling cases were matched to population controls based on sex, age, geographic location, and number of other children in the family. After individual linkage to health services data, we compared several outcomes between sibling cases and controls: (a) physical health conditions (such as diabetes, hypertension, and death); (b) acute health care use (hospitalization, low‐ and high‐acuity emergency department [ED] visits); and (c) preventive health care use (periodic health checkups, influenza vaccinations). Cox proportional hazards, recurrent event, or logistic regression models were used as appropriate. Results We identified 8529 sibling cases and 30,364 matched controls (median age at index: 6 years, median age at last follow‐up 17 years). Compared to controls, siblings were at increased risk of hypertension (hazard ratio [HR] 1.8; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.1–2.9; p = .01), had higher rates of low‐ and high‐acuity ED visits (rate ratio 1.1; 95% CI 1.1–1.2; p < .001), and increased risk of hospitalization (HR 1.1; 95% CI 1.1–1.2; p < .001). Sibling cases were also more likely to receive preventive health care (p < .05). Conclusion Increased risk of hypertension, high‐acuity ED visits, and hospitalizations suggest that siblings may experience poorer health compared to controls. Counseling families about this potential increased risk and long‐term follow‐up of siblings to monitor their physical health may be justified.

Morbidity and healthcare use among mothers of children with cancer: A population‐based study

“…The increased rates of influenza vaccinations among exposed mothers may be due to efforts by families to protect the health of the cancer‐related and immunocompromised child. Similar patterns of influenza vaccinations were reported among siblings of children with cancer 42 . A positive finding from our study is that mothers of children with cancer were no less likely to engage in preventive healthcare such as mammograms than unexposed mothers.…”

“…Similar patterns of influenza vaccinations were reported among siblings of children with cancer. 42 A positive finding from our study is that mothers of children with cancer were no less likely to engage in preventive healthcare such as mammograms than unexposed mothers. Several authors have hypothesized that caregivers may neglect their own health to focus on the care of the cancer-affected family member.…”

Cognition, mental health and quality of life amongst siblings of preterm born children: A systematic review

“…7 In areas such as cancer and autism spectrum disorders, the health and well-being of the typically developing siblings of children affected by the health problem has gained traction in the last decades. [9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16] Siblings, as the first peer group experience, play a crucial role in identity building and childhood development 17 and gaining later life skills and relationships. 18 However, there is a dearth of knowledge around the impact of preterm birth on term born siblings of children born preterm.…”