By Tarun Sai LomteAug 14 2023Reviewed by Lily Ramsey, LLM In a recent study published in JAMA Network Open, researchers characterized alcohol consumption patterns among cancer survivors in the United States.
Notwithstanding, specific surveillance and counseling are unavailable for cancer survivors, who are advised to follow nutrition and physical activity guidelines from the American Cancer Society. Nevertheless, less is known about alcohol intake patterns among US cancer survivors. Alcohol consumption status was defined according to lifestyle survey responses and classified as current, former, or never drinker. Former drinkers had at least one drink in their life but not in the past year.
The team identified cancer survivors whose first medical encounter occurred at least a year before the baseline survey and those who underwent cancer treatment within the previous year of the baseline survey. Among those who underwent treatment, prevalence estimates were determined according to treatment type.
Survivors with alcohol-related cancers who were non-Hispanic White, without current medication or treatment, were more likely to be current drinkers. Current and former smokers were more likely to be current drinkers.Survivors who were <65 years, males, Hispanic, and with cancer diagnosis before 18 were more likely to exceed moderate drinking and engage in binge drinking. About 38.