OBJECTIVE

To characterize postdiagnosis changes in body mass index (BMI) among childhood survivors of suprasellar brain tumours, and to determine the risk factors associated with obesity.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective analysis of 46 children (16 boys and 30 girls) with median (IQR) age of 7.49 (3.47-11.59) years at tumour diagnosis, and followed up for 3.93 (1.68-7.27) years. Survival analyses were used to identify risks of developing obesity.

RESULTS

There were no sex differences in age at tumour diagnosis, duration of follow-up, tumour types, endocrinopathies, treatment modalities or baseline BMI SDS. In the first year after tumour diagnosis, ΔBMI SDS (median; IQR) was greater in girls (1.32; 0.07-2.08) than in boys (0.48; -0.40 to 0.89) (p = 0.01). At diagnosis, 3/46 children (6%) were obese; this increased to 20/46 (43%) by last follow-up (p < 0.001) and was more common in girls (17/30; 57%) than in boys (3/16; 19%). Female gender (hazard ratio 5.0, 95% CI 1.2-21.7; p = 0.04) and greater than average baseline BMI (hazard ratio 4.7, 95% CI 1.1-20.8; p = 0.02) were risk factors for subsequent obesity.

CONCLUSIONS

Accurate prediction of obesity risk is important and would allow early targeted intervention in high-risk patients.