Rising global burden of alcohol-attributable breast cancer in women: Regional inequalities and temporal trends

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy and a leading cause of death among women of reproductive age. Although high alcohol consumption is a known modifiable risk factor, its global and regional impact on breast cancer mortality and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) remains insufficiently understood. Data on alcohol-attributable breast cancer mortality and DALYs among women aged 15–49 years were collected from 204 countries and territories from 1990 to 2021. Temporal trends were analysed using estimated annual percentage changes (EAPC). Relationships with the sociodemographic index (SDI) were assessed, and projections to 2050 were modelled to predict future patterns.
Globally, alcohol-attributable breast cancer mortality decreased from 0.27 to 0.17 per 100,000 (EAPC − 1.79%), and DALYs from 14.00 to 9.02 per 100,000 (EAPC − 1.71%). Women aged 45–49 had the highest mortality rates, although these rates declined significantly (EAPC − 2.71%). High-SDI regions, especially Western Europe, North America, and Australasia, experienced notable reductions. Conversely, low- and middle-SDI regions saw sharp increases, with mortality rising over 300% in low-middle SDI areas and South Asia (EAPC +2.57% and +2.87%, respectively). The United States, Brazil, and China recorded the highest national rates, while Gulf States had the lowest. Mortality and DALY rates showed positive correlations with SDI (ρ = 0.709 and 0.719). Projections indicate continued declines in high-SDI regions but worsening trends in low-SDI areas by 2050. Despite global progress, the increasing burden of alcohol-attributable breast cancer in less developed regions highlights the importance of targeted prevention and alcohol control strategies.
Source: Dai L, Yao H, Liu W. (2026) Rising global burden of alcohol-attributable breast cancer in women: regional inequalities and temporal trends. Int J Women’s Health, 18, 1-14.