Alcohol-attributable cancer: Update from the Global Burden of Disease 2021 Study

Alcohol is a major risk factor for cancer development. A study aimed to provide the updated global, regional and national burden of alcohol-attributable cancer.
Researchers analysed the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 to determine the death and age-standardised death rate (ASDR) from alcohol-attributable cancer and the change of these measures between 2000 and 2021 (reflected as annual percent change [APC]), classified by region, nation and country’s developmental status, which is based on the sociodemographic index (SDI).
In 2021, there were 343,370 deaths globally from alcohol-attributable cancer, which was an increase from 2000 by 51%. Alcohol-attributable cancer accounted for 3.5% of all cancer deaths. Among alcohol-attributable cancer, liver cancer (27%) accounted for the highest mortality from alcohol, followed by oesophageal (24%) and colorectal cancer (16%). From 2000 to 2021, ASDR from alcohol-attributable cancer decreased (APC: -0.66%). Regionally, from 2000 to 2021, the fastest-growing ASDR was observed in South Asia. Classified by SDI, low (APC: 0.33%) and low-to-middle SDI countries (APC: 1.58%) exhibited an uptrend in ASDR from alcohol-attributable cancer. While the ASDR from all other cancers decreased, ASDR from early-onset (15-49 years) lip and oral cavity cancer increased (APC: 0.40%).
From 2000 to 2021, although the ASDR from alcohol-attributable cancer declined, the total number of deaths continued to rise. This trend was accompanied by variations across sociodemographic groups and cancer types, particularly gastrointestinal cancers. Urgent efforts are needed both globally and at regional levels to address the burden of alcohol-attributable cancers.
Source: Danpanichkul, P., Pang, Y., Díaz, L.A., et al., Alcohol-Attributable Cancer: Update From the Global Burden of Disease 2021 Study. Aliment Pharmacol Ther.