title: Continued alcohol use in patients with head and neck cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The effect of posttreatment alcohol consumption on health-related quality of life (QOL) and factors predicting overall QOL and continued alcohol consumption were examined in patients with head and neck cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Self-reported alcohol use and abuse 1 year after diagnosis was analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Although current drinkers (44.5% of 283 patients) had better overall QOL and fewer depressive symptoms, current social drinkers had the best scores, whereas current problem drinkers had the worst. Female sex, fewer depressive symptoms, less pain, and better eating function predicted better QOL. Oral function was the only predictor of 12-month alcohol use.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Depression, pain, and eating function predicted overall QOL. Alcohol consumption was not associated with QOL, but was associated with better oral function, which in turn predicted better QOL. Alcohol consumption itself does not improve QOL in this population, and these patients should be counseled regarding detrimental effects of continued drinking after treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa, USA.
authors.forename: Andrea E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Potash
authors.forename: Lucy Hynds
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Karnell
authors.forename: Alan J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Christensen
authors.forename: Mark W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Vander Weg
authors.forename: Gerry F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Funk
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome