ALCOHOL AS A RISK FACTOR IN HNC, AN ENORMOUS TOLL ON THE LIVES AND COMMUNITIES
Journal Title: Journal of Evidence Based Medicine and Healthcare - Year 2016, Vol 3, Issue 12
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Head and neck cancer (HNC) is the seventh most common cancer in the world. After smoking, alcohol consumption is a strong associated risk factor for HNC. Alcohol consumption has negative impact on health and social consequences. The existing literature shows that alcohol consumption along with smoking is an important risk factor for HNC. MATERIAL AND METHODS In this retrospective analysis of 12-years from 2001 to 2012, total 9,950 patients of histopathologically proven head and neck cancers, were included in the study. The patients were analyzed for their association with alcohol as an associated risk factor along with smoking in different HNC subtypes. RESULTS Male to female ratio was 7:1 and median age of presentation was 54-years. 59% patients were alcoholics (alcoholics only+ smokers as well as alcoholics), out of which 6% were alcoholics only and the strength of association differed between different HNC subtypes; maximum for oropharyngeal group (35%), and 7.6%, 5% and 10% for oral cavity, hypopharynx and larynx respectively. Further evaluation has shown that total smokers (smokers only+ smokers as well as alcoholics) were 89%, out of which 36% were smokers only. At last follow-up, no evidence of disease (NED) was seen in 15% patients among total alcoholics and in 20% patients among non-alcoholics. CONCLUSION The present retrospective study of HNC patients at a tertiary care centre over a period of twelve years concluded the strong association of alcohol consumption with HNC and its different subtypes. Alcohol problems have an enormous toll on lives and communities of the developing nations particularly in the populous regions of the world (e.g. in China and India). There is a need to raise awareness among the population about the negative implications of alcohol consumption and to minimize them.
Authors and Affiliations
Anil Kumar Dhull, Rajeev Atri, Vivek Kaushal, Garima Malik, Abhishek Soni, Rakesh Dhankhar, Ashok Chauhan
Keywords
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- EP ID EP232437
- DOI 10.18410/jebmh/2016/85
- Views 87
- Downloads 0
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