Cancer risk among Swedish female alcoholics by age, birth cohort and severity of alcoholism

We have previously reported increased risk for cancer in 15 508 alcoholic w omen registered in the Swedish Temperance Boards compared with individually matched controls. Age at first registration was found for 14 818 of these women. The women were divided into early and late alcoholic onset groups. A ge 45 was used as an approximation for reproductive senescence. For subject s < 45 years at first registration with the Temperance Board we found an in creased relative risk (RR) of 1.8 (95% CI 1.5-2.0), whereas for the older a ge at onset group we found an RR of 1.5 (95% CI 1.3-1.7). Early onset was a ssociated with higher risk of cancer at all sites studied and in all age co horts. We used the number of Temperance Board registrations as an index of severity of alcoholism; this measure was not associated with risk for cance r. (C) 2000 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.