Association of Cigarette Smoking and Alcohol Drinking With Risk of 12 Common Cancers Among Low-Income American Adults in the Southeastern United States

Introduction Cigarette smoking and alcohol drinking are well-known risk factors for various cancers. We aimed to determine a comprehensive profile of cancer risk associated with these lifestyle factors in predominantly low-income Americans. Methods We prospectively investigated the associations betw...

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Main Authors: Jiajun Shi PhD, Wanqing Wen MD, MPH, Qiuyin Cai MD, PhD, Martha J. Shrubsole PhD, Xiao-Ou Shu MD, PhD, Wei Zheng MD, PhD
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2025-05-01
Series:Cancer Control
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1177/10732748251341523
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author Jiajun Shi PhD
Wanqing Wen MD, MPH
Qiuyin Cai MD, PhD
Martha J. Shrubsole PhD
Xiao-Ou Shu MD, PhD
Wei Zheng MD, PhD
author_facet Jiajun Shi PhD
Wanqing Wen MD, MPH
Qiuyin Cai MD, PhD
Martha J. Shrubsole PhD
Xiao-Ou Shu MD, PhD
Wei Zheng MD, PhD
author_sort Jiajun Shi PhD
collection DOAJ
description Introduction Cigarette smoking and alcohol drinking are well-known risk factors for various cancers. We aimed to determine a comprehensive profile of cancer risk associated with these lifestyle factors in predominantly low-income Americans. Methods We prospectively investigated the associations between cigarette smoking, alcohol drinking, and the risk of twelve cancer types among over 74 000 low-income Black and White adults from the Southern Community Cohort Study in the United States. We used the Cox proportional hazards models to estimate the hazard ratios (HRs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for these associations. Results Compared to never smokers, current smokers had an increased HR for cancers of lung (HR: 14.14, 95% CI: 11.47-17.42), liver and bile duct (HR: 3.19, 95% CI: 2.40-4.25), kidney (HR: 1.47, 95% CI: 1.10-1.96), pancreas (HR: 1.88, 95% CI: 1.41-2.50), oral and pharynx (HR: 3.83, 95% CI: 2.70-5.42), and bladder (HR: 2.81, 95% CI: 1.92-4.11), and a reduced risk of prostate cancer (HR: 0.78, 95% CI: 0.68-0.89) and uterine cancer (HR: 0.45, 95% CI: 0.32-0.63); former smokers also exhibited elevated risks for cancers of lung, liver and bile duct, kidney, and bladder; however, a decreased risk for the lung, liver and bile duct, and bladder cancers was observed with longer durations of smoking cessation, with HRs from 9.71, 2.26, and 2.28 for a duration of <10 years down to 4.28, 1.58, and 1.42 for a duration of 10-19 years, respectively. Compared to never-drinkers, participants who consumed more than 2 drinks per day had increased risks of liver and bile duct cancer (HR: 1.66, 95% CI: 1.29-2.13) and oral and pharynx cancer (HR: 2.15, 95% CI: 1.58-2.91). Conclusion Cigarette smoking and alcohol drinking were associated with an increased risk of multiple cancers. Our findings support efforts to control cigarette and alcohol consumption for cancer prevention in low-income U.S. populations.
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spelling doaj-art-a239e6489dde4ae8b4030d0730ed21ce2025-08-20T03:22:18ZengSAGE PublishingCancer Control1526-23592025-05-013210.1177/10732748251341523Association of Cigarette Smoking and Alcohol Drinking With Risk of 12 Common Cancers Among Low-Income American Adults in the Southeastern United StatesJiajun Shi PhDWanqing Wen MD, MPHQiuyin Cai MD, PhDMartha J. Shrubsole PhDXiao-Ou Shu MD, PhDWei Zheng MD, PhDIntroduction Cigarette smoking and alcohol drinking are well-known risk factors for various cancers. We aimed to determine a comprehensive profile of cancer risk associated with these lifestyle factors in predominantly low-income Americans. Methods We prospectively investigated the associations between cigarette smoking, alcohol drinking, and the risk of twelve cancer types among over 74 000 low-income Black and White adults from the Southern Community Cohort Study in the United States. We used the Cox proportional hazards models to estimate the hazard ratios (HRs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for these associations. Results Compared to never smokers, current smokers had an increased HR for cancers of lung (HR: 14.14, 95% CI: 11.47-17.42), liver and bile duct (HR: 3.19, 95% CI: 2.40-4.25), kidney (HR: 1.47, 95% CI: 1.10-1.96), pancreas (HR: 1.88, 95% CI: 1.41-2.50), oral and pharynx (HR: 3.83, 95% CI: 2.70-5.42), and bladder (HR: 2.81, 95% CI: 1.92-4.11), and a reduced risk of prostate cancer (HR: 0.78, 95% CI: 0.68-0.89) and uterine cancer (HR: 0.45, 95% CI: 0.32-0.63); former smokers also exhibited elevated risks for cancers of lung, liver and bile duct, kidney, and bladder; however, a decreased risk for the lung, liver and bile duct, and bladder cancers was observed with longer durations of smoking cessation, with HRs from 9.71, 2.26, and 2.28 for a duration of <10 years down to 4.28, 1.58, and 1.42 for a duration of 10-19 years, respectively. Compared to never-drinkers, participants who consumed more than 2 drinks per day had increased risks of liver and bile duct cancer (HR: 1.66, 95% CI: 1.29-2.13) and oral and pharynx cancer (HR: 2.15, 95% CI: 1.58-2.91). Conclusion Cigarette smoking and alcohol drinking were associated with an increased risk of multiple cancers. Our findings support efforts to control cigarette and alcohol consumption for cancer prevention in low-income U.S. populations.https://doi.org/10.1177/10732748251341523
spellingShingle Jiajun Shi PhD
Wanqing Wen MD, MPH
Qiuyin Cai MD, PhD
Martha J. Shrubsole PhD
Xiao-Ou Shu MD, PhD
Wei Zheng MD, PhD
Association of Cigarette Smoking and Alcohol Drinking With Risk of 12 Common Cancers Among Low-Income American Adults in the Southeastern United States
Cancer Control
title Association of Cigarette Smoking and Alcohol Drinking With Risk of 12 Common Cancers Among Low-Income American Adults in the Southeastern United States
title_full Association of Cigarette Smoking and Alcohol Drinking With Risk of 12 Common Cancers Among Low-Income American Adults in the Southeastern United States
title_fullStr Association of Cigarette Smoking and Alcohol Drinking With Risk of 12 Common Cancers Among Low-Income American Adults in the Southeastern United States
title_full_unstemmed Association of Cigarette Smoking and Alcohol Drinking With Risk of 12 Common Cancers Among Low-Income American Adults in the Southeastern United States
title_short Association of Cigarette Smoking and Alcohol Drinking With Risk of 12 Common Cancers Among Low-Income American Adults in the Southeastern United States
title_sort association of cigarette smoking and alcohol drinking with risk of 12 common cancers among low income american adults in the southeastern united states
url https://doi.org/10.1177/10732748251341523
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