Work

The Effect of Alcohol Consumption Behavior Changes on Gastric Cancer Risks Stratified by Sex in South Korea

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: PURPOSE: The effect of behavior changes in alcohol drinking on gastric cancer (GC) development, and the sex differences in those effects have not yet been fully elucidated. This study investigated the effect of behavior changes in alcohol drinking on the GC risk by sex. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The cohort consisted of 310,192 Koreans (≥ 40 years) from the National Health Insurance Service-Health Screening Cohort with a median follow-up period of 12 years. Subjects were classified according to alcohol consumption behavior changes (non-drinker, quitter, reducer, sustainer, and increaser). The independent effect of changes in alcohol drinking patterns or concurrent effect of alcohol on GC risk were evaluated using the Cox proportional hazard regression. RESULTS: In males, non-drinkers showed a lower risk of developing GC (hazard ratio [HR], 0.91; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.84 to 0.98), whereas increasers showed a higher risk of GC than sustainers (HR, 1.11; 95% CI, 1.02 to 1.20). Starting to drink alcohol, even at a mild level, was associated with an increased GC risk, while a decreased GC risk was induced when alcohol consumption dose decreases to a mild from a moderate level among males. However, in females, only substantial change of alcohol consumption dose from non- to heavy-drinking was associated with increased GC risk (HR, 1.97; 95% CI, 0.98 to 3.96). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that alcohol abstinence can reduce the risk of developing GC, particularly among males.

Source: Cancer Research and Treatment

DOI: 10.4143/crt.2024.591

Authors: Yonghoon Choi, Jieun Jang, Hyeong Ho Jo, Nayoung Kim

Institutions: Seoul National University, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, National Cancer Center, Daegu Catholic University, Daegu Catholic University Medical Center

Language: English

Topic: Alcohol Consumption and Health Effects

Subfield: Pathology and Forensic Medicine

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: diamond

Funders: Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, National Research Foundation of Korea, Ministry of Science and ICT, South Korea