Abstract
ObjectiveTo provide a precise quantification of the association between alcohol and tobacco consumption trends in head and neck cancer patients over the past 45 years.MethodsWe combined findings from all studies published until March 2014 and evaluated the association between different levels in alcohol and tobacco consumption and head and neck cancers through a meta-analytic approach.ResultsWe included 28 studies involving 13830 patients with head and neck cancer. In patients with alcohol consumption, the pooled odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were 1.29(1.06-1.57), 2.67(2.05-3.48) and 6.63(5.02-8.74) for light drinkers, moderate drinkers and heavy drinkers, respectively. In patients with tobacco consumption, the pooled OR and 95% CI were 2.33(1.84-2.95), 4.97(3.67-6.71) and 6.77(4.81-9.53) for light smokers, moderate smokers and heavy smokers, respectively.ConclusionThe increased alcohol and tobacco consumption trends increased the risk of head and neck cancer over the past 45 years. Tobacco consumption was found to be a stronger risk factor for head and neck cancer than alcohol consumption. Thus, the control should be considered to limit the intake of alcohol and tobacco.
Highlights
The broad ranges of alcohol and tobacco consumption patterns around the world create significant public health and safety problems
The increased alcohol and tobacco consumption trends increased the risk of head and neck cancer over the past 45 years
Ecological and individual-based studies have reported higher incidence of Head and neck cancers (HNC) in deprived populations [7]; lower education and nonprofessional occupations exhibit a poorer prognosis of HNC [8]; in addition, dietary and nutritional habits have been reported to have a relevant role in the development of HNC [9]
Summary
The broad ranges of alcohol and tobacco consumption patterns around the world create significant public health and safety problems. Convincing evidence demonstrated that alcohol and tobacco consumption increases the risk of cancer in the breast, colorectum, liver, esophagus and head and neck [1,2,3]. Head and neck cancers (HNC) including cancers in the oral cavity, pharynx and larynx, is one of the most common cancer in the world. A great amount of the studies with HNC cancers only focused on the intake of alcohol and tobacco, paying little attention on a precise evidence of an association between different levels of alcohol and tobacco consumption. It is necessary to explore whether different levels of alcohol and tobacco consumption differ the HNC cancer risk. We carried out a meta-analysis of epidemiological published studies to quantify the association between different levels of alcohol and tobacco consumption and patients with head and neck cancer
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