Clinical characteristics and risk factors of infantile hemangioma: a case-control study in Northwest China

Abstract

Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics and risk factors of infantile hemangioma in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China. Methods A total of 941 infants with infantile hemangioma were identified as subjects and matched with 941 infants of the same age without infantile hemangioma. Trained investigators used a standardized questionnaire to collect data from both groups, including demographic, prenatal, and perinatal characteristics. Univariate and multiple logistic regression models were used to screen risk factors. Results This study revealed that female (P<0.001, OR = 3.08, 95% CI = 2.54 - 3.74), maternal tea drinking (P<0.001, OR =1.86, 95% CI = 1.32 - 2.61), low birth-weight (P<0.001, OR = 3.01, 95% CI = 2.10 - 4.30), preterm (P<0.001, OR = 4.07, 95% CI = 2.73 - 6.09), gestational diabetes (P<0.001, OR = 2.03, 95% CI = 1.41 - 2.94 ), maternal progesterone use (P<0.001, OR = 2.44, 95% CI = 1.83 - 3.25) and a history of hemangiomas in first-degree relatives (P<0.001, OR = 1.80, 95% CI = 1.33 - 2.43) influenced the occurrence of infantile hemangioma. Female (P<0.001, OR = 2.82, 95% CI = 2.30 - 3.45 ), maternal progesterone use (P<0.001, OR = 14.64, 95% CI = 3.52 - 60.88) and a history of hemangiomas in first-degree relatives (P<0.001, OR = 0.011, 95% CI = 0.002 - 0.065) were independent risk factors for infantile hemangioma. Conclusions Female, maternal tea drinking, low birthweight, preterm, gestational diabetes, maternal progesterone use, and a history of hemangiomas in first-degree relatives may interact with each other leading to the occurrence of infantile hemangioma. Key words: Infantile hemangioma; Clinical characteristics; Risk factors; Case-control; Epidemiology