Laryngeal Cancer Risk in Non-Smokers and Non-Drinkers
Author Information
Author(s): Bosetti C, Gallus S, Franceschi S, Levi F, Bertuzzi M, Negri E, Talamini R, La Vecchia C
Primary Institution: Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche ‘Mario Negri’
Hypothesis
What are the separate effects of alcohol and tobacco on laryngeal cancer risk in non-smoking alcohol drinkers and non-drinking tobacco smokers?
Conclusion
The study confirms that both alcohol and tobacco significantly increase the risk of laryngeal cancer, with a stronger effect from tobacco.
Supporting Evidence
- Alcohol drinking and tobacco smoking both increase the risk of laryngeal cancer.
- The odds ratio for heavy drinkers who are non-smokers is 2.46.
- The odds ratio for current smokers who are non-drinkers is 9.38.
- Moderate alcohol intake does not show an increased risk for laryngeal cancer.
Takeaway
Drinking alcohol and smoking tobacco can both make you more likely to get throat cancer, and smoking is worse than drinking.
Methodology
The study analyzed data from two case-control studies involving non-smoking and non-drinking subjects to assess the effects of alcohol and tobacco on laryngeal cancer risk.
Potential Biases
There may be risks of bias due to reliance on self-reported data regarding alcohol and tobacco use.
Limitations
The study may not account for all potential confounding factors related to lifestyle and health.
Participant Demographics
Participants included 40 non-smoking and 68 non-drinking laryngeal cancer cases, matched with controls based on age, sex, and study center.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.004
Confidence Interval
95% CI: 0.98–6.20 for alcohol; 95% CI: 3.35–26.26 for tobacco
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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