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Cancer morbidity in alcohol abusers

H Tønnesen¹, H Møller, J R Andersen

¹Carl Nielsens Alle 9, Copenhagen, Denmark.

British Journal of Cancer

|February 1, 1994

Summary

Alcohol abuse significantly increases overall cancer risk, particularly for cancers of the upper digestive tract, respiratory system, liver, prostate, pleura, and cervix. This large cohort study confirms known associations and identifies new cancer risks linked to alcohol consumption.

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Area of Science:

Epidemiology
Oncology
Public Health

Background:

Limited data exists on alcohol abuse and cancer morbidity in large non-hospitalized cohorts.
Alcohol consumption is a known risk factor for various cancers, but specific associations require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the association between alcohol abuse and cancer incidence in a large cohort of non-hospitalized individuals.
To identify specific cancer types with increased risk in alcohol abusers.

Main Methods:

A cohort of 18,307 individuals with alcohol abuse from an outpatient clinic in Copenhagen (1954-1987) was followed.
Cancer incidence in the cohort was compared to the general Danish population.
Cancer incidence was analyzed for men and women separately, with average follow-up periods of 12.9 and 9.4 years, respectively.

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Main Results:

Overall cancer morbidity was significantly increased in both men (RR=1.6) and women (RR=1.5).
Significantly elevated risks were observed for cancers of the tongue, mouth, pharynx, esophagus, liver, larynx, lung, pleura, and secondary cancers.
Increased risks were also noted for cervical cancer in women (RR=2.0) and prostate cancer in men (RR=1.4).

Conclusions:

The study confirms the association between alcohol abuse and cancers of the upper digestive and respiratory tracts, and the liver.
Alcohol abuse is associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer, pleural cancer, and cervical cancer.
While some cancer risks were slightly increased, no significant association was found for colonic or rectal cancer.