"Planned Cesarean Birth Increases Acute Leukemia Risk by 21%"

Large-Scale Study in Sweden
"Unnecessary Surgeries Should Be Carefully Considered"

A study has found that children born by cesarean section have a higher likelihood of developing certain types of childhood leukemia compared to those born by natural delivery. In particular, the risk was found to be even higher in cases of planned cesarean section.

A study has found that children born by cesarean section have a higher risk of developing childhood leukemia compared to those born by natural delivery (photo provided for article illustration purposes only and is unrelated to the article content). Pixabay

According to the UK’s Daily Mail on July 4 (local time), a research team from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden analyzed the correlation between delivery methods and the incidence of childhood cancer. They found that the incidence rate of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in children born by planned cesarean section was about 21% higher compared to those born by natural delivery.

The study analyzed data from approximately 2.5 million births across Sweden between 1982 and 1989, and between 1999 and 2015. Of these, 15.5% were delivered by cesarean section. During the study period, a total of 1,495 children were diagnosed with leukemia, with the most frequently diagnosed type being B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). The incidence of this type was 29% higher among children born by planned cesarean section.

The research team hypothesized that the process of being born without passing through the birth canal and without exposure to bacterial environments could affect the development of the immune system. They suggested that the stress and bacterial exposure experienced during natural delivery may provide positive stimulation for immune system formation.

For the same reason, it is known that children born by planned cesarean section have a higher risk of developing conditions such as asthma and food allergies. The research team explained that in the case of emergency cesarean section, some parts of the delivery process may be similar to natural birth, which could result in a relatively lower risk of these conditions.

The lead author of the study, Dr. Christina Evmorfiapampichi, emphasized, "Cesarean section is an important medical procedure for protecting the health of both mother and baby." She added, "There is no need for unnecessary concern regarding cesarean sections performed for medical reasons." However, she also noted, "There are studies indicating that children born by planned cesarean section have a higher risk of chronic conditions such as asthma, allergies, and type 1 diabetes," and mentioned the necessity of avoiding unnecessary cesarean sections. This study was published in the International Journal of Cancer.