Frequent alcohol consumption poses more threat for GI cancer than increased intake: JAMA

Korea: In a recent study by Jung Eun Yoo, frequent drinking was revealed to be a more relevant risk factor for incident gastrointestinal (GI) cancer than the amount of alcohol taken each occasion. The findings of this study were published in the Journal of American Medical Association on 18th August 2021.

Although overall alcohol use is an established risk factor for GI cancers, few studies have attempted to analyze the pattern of alcohol consumption in relation to GI malignancies. To fill this knowledge gap, Dr. Jung Eun and the team aimed to evaluate the relative association of the frequency of drinking vs the amount of alcohol consumed per occasion with the development of GI cancers in a population-based retrospective cohort study. 

The researchers used data from the Korean Nationwide Health Insurance System database on 11 737 467 cancer-free patients who participated in a national health screening program between January 1, 2009, and December 31, 2010. Participants were tracked for a year following their health screening date until they were diagnosed with GI cancer, died, or died on December 31, 2017. The average period of follow-up was 6.4 years (interquartile range, 6.4-7.4 years). From January 1, 2019, to March 31, 2020, statistical analysis was carried out. Grouping was as follows, weekly alcohol intake (nondrinker [0 g/week], mild drinker [0-104 g/week], moderate drinker [105-209 g/week], and heavy drinker [210 g/week]), frequency of drinking, and the amount consumed each occasion.