Areca users in combination with tobacco and alcohol use are associated with younger age of diagnosed esophageal cancer in Taiwanese men
Journal
PLoS ONE
Journal Volume
6
Journal Issue
10
Pages
e25347
Date Issued
2011
Author(s)
Abstract
Background: Whether the habitual use of substances (tobacco, alcohol, or areca nut (seed of the Areca palm)) can affect the age of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) presentation has rarely been examined. Methods: The study subjects were those who were males and the first time to be diagnosed as ESCC (ICD-9 150) and who visited any of three medical centers in Taiwan between 2000 and 2009. A standardized questionnaire was used to collect substance uses and other variables. Results: Mean age (±SD) at presentation of ESCC was 59.2 (±11.3) years in a total of 668 cases. After adjusting for other covariates, alcohol drinkers were 3.58 years younger to have ESCC than non-drinkers (p = 0.002). A similar result was found among areca chewers, who were 6.34 years younger to have ESCC than non-chewers (p<0.0001), but not among cigarette smokers (p = 0.10). When compared to the group using 0-1 substances, subjects using both cigarettes and alcohol were nearly 3 years younger to contract ESCC. Furthermore, those who use areca plus another substance were 7-8 years younger. Subjects using all three substances had the greatest age difference, 9.20 years younger (p<0.0001), compared to the comparison group. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that habitually consuming tobacco, alcohol, and areca nut can influence the age-onset of ESCC. Since the development of ESCC is insidious and life-threatening, our observation is worthy to be reconfirmed in the large-scale and long-term follow-up prospective cohort studies to recommend the screening strategy of this disease. ? 2011 Lin et al.
SDGs
Other Subjects
adult; age distribution; aged; alcohol consumption; areca chewing; article; betel nut; cancer epidemiology; cancer risk; cancer staging; case control study; cigarette smoking; controlled study; drinking behavior; esophageal squamous cell carcinoma; high risk population; human; major clinical study; male; onset age; questionnaire; smoking habit; Taiwan; age; Areca; drinking behavior; esophagus tumor; middle aged; squamous cell carcinoma; tobacco; validation study; Areca; Areca catechu; Nicotiana tabacum; Age Factors; Alcohol Drinking; Areca; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Esophageal Neoplasms; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Tobacco
Type
journal article