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Alcohol intake influences breast cancer risk for black women
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Consumption of seven or more drinks per week increased breast cancer risk among black women, according to study results.
“The World Health Organization and the Institute of Medicine recognize that alcohol is a risk factor for breast cancer, but most of the previous studies have evaluated this association in predominately white women,” Lindsay A. Williams, MPH, epidemiology doctoral candidate at UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, told HemOnc Today. “Conducting this study allowed us to confirm that alcohol intake is indeed a risk factor for breast cancer among black women, as well.”
Williams and colleagues analyzed data from 22,338 women from the African American Breast Cancer Epidemiology and Risk Consortium, which encompassed four large epidemiologic studies. Nearly one-quarter (22.8%; n = 5,108) of these women had invasive breast cancer.
Study participants completed questionnaires that assessed alcohol intake.
Researchers used logistic regression to estimate odds ratios as the measure of association between the number of alcoholic drinks consumed per week and invasive breast cancer incidence. Investigators adjusted for potential confounders and stratified by breast cancer subtype.
Women who reported drinking 14 or more alcoholic drinks per week demonstrated a 33% increased risk for breast cancer compared with those who consumed four or fewer drinks per week (adjusted OR = 1.33; 95% CI, 1.07-1.64).
Consumption of seven or more alcoholic drinks per week demonstrated increased risk for several breast cancer subtypes, including ER–negative disease (adjusted OR = 1.31; 95% CI, 1-1.72), PR–negative disease (adjusted OR = 1.28; 95% CI, 1-1.63), HER-2–negative disease (adjusted OR = 1.36; 95% CI, 1.09-1.7) and triple-negative disease (adjusted OR = 1.39; 95% CI, 0.98-2).
Sensitivity analysis that assessed the associations among women in three age groups — aged 29 years or younger, 30 to 49 years, and 50 years or older — revealed no variation in the association. The association also did not differ based on study participants’ oral contraceptive use, smoking history or menopausal status.
The results — consistent with those observed in prior studies that predominantly included women of European descent — should prompt women to be more cognizant of their alcohol intake, Williams said.
“Alcohol consumption is a modifiable risk factor,” Williams said. “Women concerned about their breast cancer risk should use this information to discuss risk-reduction strategies with their health care providers and determine if reducing their alcohol intake is an appropriate risk-reduction strategy for them.” – by Kyle Doherty
For more information:
Lindsay A. Williams can be reached at UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, 135 Dauer Drive, 2101 McGavran-Greenberg Hall, CB #7435, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7435.
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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