The increasing incidence of alcohol-related cancers in young adults in the United States: Who is most at risk?

Abstract

10563 Background: To evaluate incidences and trends of alcohol-associated cancers in United States adults over the last 18 years. Methods: Data was extracted from the United States Cancer Statistics database from 2001 to 2018. SEER*Stat Joinpoint Regression program 4.8.1 was used to calculate incidences and trends. Average annual percentage change (AAPC) was used to describe trends. Based on the ICD-O-3 criteria, liver, colon, oral cavity, esophagus, and pharynx cancers were classified as alcohol-related cancers. Results: Over the last 18 years, the incidence of alcohol-associated cancers decreased overall in males and females by 0.9% every year (p < 0.001). Alcohol-associated cancers increased significantly in younger patients under the age of 39 years old (p < 0.001). Based on race, Black men and women had the highest incidence at 135.17/100,000 followed by 132.50 in White individuals, 105.84 in Hispanic individuals, and 104.28 in Asian individuals. By region, the incidence was found to be the highest in the Midwest at 132.89/100,000 and lowest in the West at 120.33. Based on cancer types, the most common alcohol related cancer was colorectal cancer with an incidence at 36.49/100,000 in 2018, followed by oral cavity cancers at 11.69, liver cancer at 6.76, esophagus cancer at 4.51, and larynx cancer at 2.92. Of all these types of cancers, liver cancer had the highest annual increase at 2.43% (p < 0.001). Using a projection model, we found that liver cancer is estimated to surpass colorectal cancer by the year 2035. On intersectionality analysis, White men and women in the Northeast between the ages of 75-79 had the highest incidence of alcohol-associated cancers at 584.10/100,000 in 2018. However, over the last 18 years, White men and women in the South between the ages of 20-24 had the highest annual increase at 4.08% (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Over the last 18 years, alcohol-related cancers increased in the younger patients, particularly those residing in the South. Liver cancer is increasing at the highest rate.