In a recent study, researchers offer global, regional and national estimates of the burden of cancer attributable to alcohol in 2020.
Alcohol consumption has been linked to different cancers, including breast, liver, colon, rectum, oropharynx, larynx, and throat. esophagus. Previous estimates of the contribution of alcohol to these diseases have already been made, but drinking patterns are changing in different regions of the world . Per capita consumption, for example, has fallen in many European countries, while it is increasing in Asian and sub-Saharan African countries.
Also, "new estimates of the cancer burden attributable to alcohol are warranted “, emphasizes Harriet Rumgay, of the International Agency for Research on Cancer, France.
As part of new work, the researcher and her team made their calculations based on existing consumption estimates in 2010 (based on figures including data taxes and sales), as well as other data such as estimates of cancer risks known to be alcohol-related.
“There is a delay between alcohol consumption and the possible development of cancer, so it is necessary to take into account a latency period between year of alcohol exposure data and year of cancer diagnosis “, justifies Dr. Rumgay.
Researchers combined these numbers with existing estimates of new cancer cases in 2020 based on records from previous years. In this way, their data was not affected by the disruptions due to the Covid-19 pandemic. They then estimated how many of these cases were likely caused by the consumption of alcoholic beverages.
According to these results, alcohol consumption was the cause of approximately 568,700 cases of cancer in men and 172,600 cases in women. last year, or more than 740,000 cases in total . The majority of cancer cases involved cancers of the esophagus, liver and breast.
Another important point:while most cases of cancer caused by alcohol were linked to excessive or so-called "risky" consumption, even low or moderate alcohol consumption have been linked to certain cancers. According to these data, drinking up to 10 g of alcohol per day (the equivalent of a draft or a small glass of wine) would indeed have favored between 35,400 and 145,800 cases in the world in 2020.
Unsurprisingly, the results also differed by region. Overall, the proportion of cancer cases was lower in North Africa and West Asia, but higher in East Asia and Central and Eastern Europe. According to the researcher, the next step will be to estimate alcohol-related cancer deaths.
In view of these results, the team suggests this link between alcohol consumption and cancer should be further highlighted by the authorities.
“The impact of alcohol on cancer is often unknown or overlooked. We therefore need increased public awareness and policies aimed at reducing overall consumption to prevent the burden of cancers and other alcohol-attributable diseases “, emphasizes Harriet Rumgay. Among other things, it offers labels with warnings and higher taxes on alcoholic beverages.
