title: Alcohol drinking cessation and the risk of laryngeal and pharyngeal cancers: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of alcohol cessation on the risk of developing laryngeal and pharyngeal cancers, combining available evidence in the scientific literature in a meta-analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A systematic literature review was conducted, and a meta-analysis was applied on the retrieved studies. The generalised least squares method was used to estimate the trend from dose-response data to assess changes in the risks of laryngeal and pharyngeal cancers after drinking cessation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 9 case-control studies were included in the meta-analysis (4 and 8 estimates for laryngeal and pharyngeal cancers, respectively). On average, alcohol drinking cessation was associated with a 2% yearly reduction in the risk of developing laryngeal and pharyngeal cancers. There was a considerable heterogeneity between the studies of pharyngeal cancer, but this was mostly due to two studies. The increased risk of laryngeal and pharyngeal cancers caused by alcohol was reversible; the time periods until the risks became equal to those of never drinkers were 36 (95% CI 11-106) and 39 (95% CI 13-103) years, respectively. Moreover, 5 years of drinking cessation was associated with a reduction of around 15% in the alcohol-related elevated risk of laryngeal and pharyngeal cancers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although a long time period is required to completely eliminate the alcohol-related elevated risk of laryngeal and pharyngeal cancers, a substantial risk reduction can be seen in the short term (5-10 years), and drinking cessation should therefore be encouraged to reduce the incidence of these cancers.
authors.affiliation: Division of Health Economics, Department of Clinical Sciences, Malmö University Hospital, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden.
authors.forename: Aliasghar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ahmad Kiadaliri
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jarl
authors.forename: Georgios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gavriilidis
authors.forename: Ulf-G
authors.initials: UG
authors.lastname: Gerdtham
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000209:etiology*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology*; D016018:Least-Squares Analysis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010610:Pharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology*; D012306:Risk; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D000077195:Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck
chemical_list: D000431:Ethanol