Calculation of population attributable risk for alcohol and breast cancer (United States)

Objectives: Because of increasing evidence that alcohol may be causally ass ociated with breast cancer, we reconsider the population attributable risk (PAR) for alcohol and breast cancer for the US adult female population usin g an effect estimate from a meta-analysis and incorporating a revised persp ective on measurement error correction. Methods: To estimate PAR, we employed a formula appropriate to use with an adjusted effect estimate. To estimate intermediate quantities needed to app ly that formula, we used adjusted relative risk estimates from a previously published meta-analysis, as well as SEER cancer statistics and general pop ulation data from the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Surve y. We used relative risk estimates uncorrected for measurement error. Results: The estimated age-adjusted PAR for alcohol and breast cancer was 2 .1%. Conclusions: Because of the modest association between alcohol and breast c ancer and the generally moderate level of alcohol intake among US women, th e proportion of breast cancer attributable to alcohol intake is small. Wide spread efforts to reduce alcohol consumption would not have a substantial i mpact on breast cancer rates in this population. While selected subgroups o f women might benefit from decreasing alcohol consumption, specific profile s for such women have yet to be defined and defended.