title: Self-reported history of infections and the risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma: an InterLymph pooled analysis.
abstract: We performed a pooled analysis of data on self-reported history of infections in relation to the risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) from 17 case-control studies that included 12,585 cases and 15,416 controls aged 16-96 years at recruitment. Pooled odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were estimated in two-stage random-effect or joint fixed-effect models, adjusting for age, sex and study centre. Data from the 2 years before diagnosis (or date of interview for controls) were excluded. A self-reported history of infectious mononucleosis was associated with an excess risk of NHL (OR = 1.26, 95% CI = 1.01-1.57 based on data from 16 studies); study-specific results indicate significant (I(2)  = 51%, p = 0.01) heterogeneity. A self-reported history of measles or whooping cough was associated with an approximate 15% reduction in risk. History of other infection was not associated with NHL. We find little clear evidence of an association between NHL risk and infection although the limitations of data based on self-reported medical history (particularly of childhood illness reported by older people) are well recognized.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cancer Epidemiology, German Cancer Research Centre, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Nikolaus
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.forename: Michael O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Falster
authors.forename: Claire M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Vajdic
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: de Sanjose
authors.forename: Otoniel
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Martínez-Maza
authors.forename: Paige M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Bracci
authors.forename: Mads
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Melbye
authors.forename: Karin Ekström
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Smedby
authors.forename: Eric A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Engels
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vineis
authors.forename: Adele Seniori
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Costantini
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Holly
authors.forename: John J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Spinelli
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: La Vecchia
authors.forename: Tongzhang
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Brian C-H
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Montella
authors.forename: Pierluigi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cocco
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maynadié
authors.forename: Lenka
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Foretova
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Staines
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Brennan
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Severson
authors.forename: James R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Cerhan
authors.forename: Elizabeth C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Breen
authors.forename: Brenda
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Birmann
authors.forename: Wendy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Cozen
authors.forename: Andrew E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Grulich
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Newton
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007244:Infectious Mononucleosis / Q000821:virology; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012306:Risk; D057566:Self Report; D055815:Young Adult