Alcohol-related liver and extrahepatic malignancies: burden of disease and socioeconomic disparities in 2019

Pojsakorn Danpanichkul, Kanokphong Suparan, Nathorn Chaiyakunapruk, Thanida Auttapracha, Siwanart Kongarin, Phuuwadith Wattanachayakul, Vijay Ramadoss, Thanathip Suenghataiphorn, Banthoon Sukphutanan, Yanfang Pang, Rashid N. Lui, Ju Dong Yang, Mazen Noureddin, Luis Antonio Díaz, Suthat Liangpunsakul, Juan Pablo Arab, Karn Wijarnpreecha

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Alcohol is linked to various cancers. While many studies have focused on developed countries, the burden of alcohol-related cancers in developing countries remains underexplored. METHODS: We analyzed data from the Global Burden of Disease Study (2000-2019) to assess mortality and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) from alcohol-related cancers in low and low-to-middle sociodemographic index (SDI) countries. RESULTS: In 2019, there were 494 730 mortality from alcohol-related cancer. Low and low-middle SDI countries contributed over 15% of global mortality of alcohol-related cancer. Among multiple types of cancer, other pharyngeal cancers in these countries accounted for over 30% of global mortality of alcohol-related cancer. Primary liver cancer exhibited the highest mortality ( n  = 16 090) in low and low-middle SDI countries. While deaths and DALYs rates from alcohol-related cancers decreased globally between 2000 and 2019, the related burden increased in low and low-middle SDI countries with a rise in all types of alcohol-related cancers, except for primary liver cancer. The most rapidly growing mortality rates in low SDI were from other pharyngeal cancers (+2.25%), whereas in low-middle SDI countries, colorectal cancer evidenced the highest increase (+2.76%). CONCLUSION: The burden from alcohol-related cancer has risen in countries with low and low-to-middle SDI, especially other pharyngeal cancers and colorectal cancer. Policymakers should focus on improving alcohol-related policies as well as screening availability to tackle the associated burden of cancer in resource-constrained countries. However, the difficulty in isolating the impact of alcohol due to limited data on other confounders necessitates caution in interpreting these findings.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)198-206
Number of pages9
JournalEuropean Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology
Volume37
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 1 2025

Keywords

  • Humans
  • Global Burden of Disease
  • Liver Neoplasms/epidemiology
  • Male
  • Female
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Disability-Adjusted Life Years
  • Developing Countries
  • Middle Aged
  • Alcohol Drinking/adverse effects
  • Health Status Disparities
  • Cost of Illness
  • Neoplasms/epidemiology
  • Aged
  • Risk Factors
  • Socioeconomic Disparities in Health

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Hepatology
  • Gastroenterology

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