title: Alcohol consumption in upper aerodigestive tract cancer: Role of head and neck surgeons' recommendations.
abstract: This study aims to describe the prevalence of alcohol consumption in patients diagnosed with an upper aerodigestive tract cancer (UADTC) and evaluate the clinical impact of head and neck surgeons' recommendations on alcohol intake. An observational, retrospective, and cross-sectional study was conducted. Socio-demographic data, type of cancer, psychiatric history, substance-use history, and DSM-IV-TR criteria for alcohol dependence were recorded. Patients were asked to report their alcohol consumption before UADTC diagnosis and during their follow-up. All patients were asked if they had received from the specialist any recommendation to reduce or stop their alcohol consumption. One hundred ninety-one patients were included. Laryngeal cancer was the most frequent. 85.3% of patients were alcohol consumers before being diagnosed, 39.8% were risky drinkers, and 13.1% had alcohol dependence. The prevalence of alcohol use decreased by 16.7% after the UADTC was diagnosed. The proportion of risky drinkers decreased from 46.6% to 24.5%. Almost half of the patients did not recall having received any recommendation regarding alcohol consumption. Receiving a recommendation was independently associated with a positive response (reduced or stopped alcohol consumption) with an Odds Ratio 3.7; p < 0.001. Prevalence of alcohol dependence and risky drinking (39.8%) is high in UADTC patients, compared to the general population. Otorhinolaryngologists and head and neck surgeons frequently provide recommendations about alcohol consumption, which has a relevant impact on the reduction of alcohol intake. Further prospective studies focused on brief advice should be performed in order to demonstrate effectiveness in this population.
authors.affiliation: Grup Recerca Addicions Clínic (GRAC-GRE), Department of Psychiatry, Clinical Institute of Neuroscience, Hospital Clínic i Universitari de Barcelona, Universitat de Barcelona, Villarroel, 170, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; Red de Trastornos Adictivos, RETICS, C/ Sinesio Delgado, 4, 28029 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Hugo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: López-Pelayo
authors.affiliation: Grup Recerca Addicions Clínic (GRAC-GRE), Department of Psychiatry, Clinical Institute of Neuroscience, Hospital Clínic i Universitari de Barcelona, Universitat de Barcelona, Villarroel, 170, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Rosselló, 149, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; Red de Trastornos Adictivos, RETICS, C/ Sinesio Delgado, 4, 28029 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Laia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Miquel
authors.affiliation: Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Rosselló, 149, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Internal Medicine - Liver Unit Department, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Passeig de la Vall d'Hebron, 119, 08035 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Altamirano
authors.affiliation: ENT Surgical Oncology Section, Hospital Clínic of Barcelona, Villarroel, 170, 08036 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: José Luís
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Blanch
authors.affiliation: Grup Recerca Addicions Clínic (GRAC-GRE), Department of Psychiatry, Clinical Institute of Neuroscience, Hospital Clínic i Universitari de Barcelona, Universitat de Barcelona, Villarroel, 170, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Rosselló, 149, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; Red de Trastornos Adictivos, RETICS, C/ Sinesio Delgado, 4, 28029 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Antoni
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gual
authors.affiliation: Grup Recerca Addicions Clínic (GRAC-GRE), Department of Psychiatry, Clinical Institute of Neuroscience, Hospital Clínic i Universitari de Barcelona, Universitat de Barcelona, Villarroel, 170, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; Red de Trastornos Adictivos, RETICS, C/ Sinesio Delgado, 4, 28029 Madrid, Spain. Electronic address: ALLIGONA@clinic.cat.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lligoña
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000592:standards*; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D066231:Surgeons
keywords: Alcohol consumption; Alcohol dependence; Hazardous pattern; Head and neck cancer; Psychological intervention; Upper aerodigestive tract neoplasms