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Alcohol consumption and non-Hodgkin lymphoma survival

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Abstract

Introduction

Epidemiological studies have shown that moderate alcohol drinkers have a lower death rate for all causes. Alcohol drinking has also been associated with reduced risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Here, we examined the role of alcohol consumption on NHL survival by type of alcohol consumed and NHL subtype.

Methods

A cohort of 575 female NHL incident cases diagnosed during 1996–2000 in Connecticut was followed-up for a median of 7.75 years. Demographic, clinical, and lifestyle information was collected at diagnosis. Survival analyses were conducted with Kaplan-Meier methods, and hazard ratios (HR) were estimated from Cox Proportional Hazards models.

Results

Compared to never drinkers, wine drinkers experienced better overall survival (75% vs. 69% five-year survival rates, p-value for log-rank test = 0.030) and better disease free survival (70% vs. 67% five-year disease-free survival rates, p-value for log-rank test = 0.049). Analysis by NHL subtype shows that the favorable effect of wine consumption was mainly seen for patients diagnosed with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) (wine drinkers for more than 25 years vs. never drinkers: HR = 0.36, 95% CI 0.14–0.94 for overall survival; HR = 0.38, 95% CI 0.16–0.94 for disease-free survival), and the adverse effect of liquor consumption was also observed among DLBCL patients (liquor drinkers vs. never drinkers: HR=2.49, 95% CI 1.26–4.93 for disease-free survival).

Conclusions

Our results suggest a moderate relationship between pre-diagnostic alcohol consumption and NHL survival, particularly for DLBCL. The results need to be replicated in larger studies.

Implications for cancer survivors

Pre-diagnostic behaviors might impact the prognosis and survival of NHL patients.

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Acknowledgments

This study is supported by grant CA62006 from the National Cancer Institute (NCI), by Hull Argall & Anna Grant 22067A from the Yale Cancer Center, and by Fogarty training grants 1D43TW008323-01 and 1D43TW007864-01 from the National Institute of Health (NIH). This publication was made possible by CTSA Grant number UL1 RR024139 from the National Center for Research Resources (NCRR), a component of the NIH and NHL roadmap for medical Research. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official view of NCRR. This research was approved by the DPH HIC. Certain data used in this study were obtained from the Connecticut Department of Public Health. The authors assume full responsibility for analyses and interpretation of these data.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA

    Xuesong Han, Tongzhang Zheng, Shuangge Ma, Theodore R. Holford, Brian Leaderer & Yawei Zhang

  2. School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA

    Francine M. Foss

  3. International Prevention Research Institute, Lyon, 69006, France

    Peter Boyle

  4. Cancer Institute/Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, People’s Republic of China

    Ping Zhao & Min Dai

  5. Yale University School of Public Health, 60 College Street, LEPH 440, P.O. Box 208034, New Haven, CT, 06520-8034, USA

    Yawei Zhang

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  1. Xuesong Han
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  2. Tongzhang Zheng
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Correspondence to Yawei Zhang.

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Han, X., Zheng, T., Foss, F.M. et al. Alcohol consumption and non-Hodgkin lymphoma survival. J Cancer Surviv 4, 101–109 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-009-0111-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-009-0111-4

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