Increased alcohol consumption tied with higher cancer risk: study

Although numerous studies have shown an association between alcohol consumption and cancer, how changes in drinking behaviour increase or decrease the incidence of cancer is not well understood.

A study was conducted to investigate the association between the reduction, cessation, or increase of alcohol consumption and the development of alcohol-related cancers and all cancers. This population-based cohort study analyzed adult beneficiaries in the Korean National Health Insurance Service. Participants (aged ≥40 years) included those who underwent a national health screening in both 2009 and 2011 and had available data on their drinking status. Data were analyzed from April 16 to July 6, 2020.

Results:

• Among the 4 513 746 participants, the cancer incidence rate was 7.7 per 1000 person-years during a median (IQR) follow-up of 6.4 years.
• Compared with the sustainer groups at each drinking level, the increaser groups had a higher risk of alcohol-related cancers and all cancers.
• The increased alcohol-related cancer incidence was associated with dose; those who changed from nondrinking to mild, or heavy drinking levels had an associated higher risk than those who did not drink.
• Those with mild drinking levels who quit drinking had a lower risk of alcohol-related cancer than those who sustained their drinking levels.
• Those with moderate or heavy drinking levels who quit drinking had a higher all-cancer incidence than those who sustained their levels, but this increase in risk disappeared when quitting was sustained.
• Compared with sustained heavy drinking, reduced heavy drinking levels to moderate levels were associated with decreased cancer risk.

Results of this study showed that increased alcohol consumption was associated with higher risks for alcohol-related and all cancers, whereas sustained quitting and reduced drinking were associated with lower risks of alcohol-related and all cancers. Alcohol cessation and reduction should be reinforced for the prevention of cancer.

Reference:

Yoo JE, Han K, Shin DW, et al. Association Between Changes in Alcohol Consumption and Cancer Risk. JAMA Netw Open. 2022;5(8):e2228544. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.28544

Keywords:

Increased, alcohol, consumption, associated, higher, cancer, risk, Jung Eun Yoo, Kyungdo Han, Dong Wook Shin, Dahye Kim, Bong-seong Kim, Sohyun Chun, Keun Hye Jeon, Wonyoung Jung, Jinsung Park, Jin Ho Park, Kui Son Choi, Joo Sung Kim, JAMA Netw Open