Alcohol consumption as a major risk factor for the rise in liver cancer mortality rates in Japanese men
Makimoto, K.; Higuchi, S.
International Journal of Epidemiology 28(1): 30-34
1999
ISSN/ISBN: 0300-5771 PMID: 10195660 DOI: 10.1093/ije/28.1.30Document Number: 281230
The pattern of liver cancer mortality by gender and birth year was examined in Japan and compared with the pattern of other alcohol-related mortality and the attributable risk per cent of heavy alcohol consumption for liver cancer deaths in Japanese men was estimated. Age-specific liver cancer mortality rates by gender from 1970 to 1994 were compared with those of cirrhosis mortality rates. Then male-to-female mortality rate ratios were calculated by birth cohort and compared with cirrhosis mortality rate ratios and oesophageal cancer mortality rate ratios. The attributable risk per cent of alcohol consumption for liver cancer death was calculated, using female liver cancer mortality rates as standard rates. Examination of both gender and birth cohort mortality rates revealed that male-to-female liver cancer mortality rate ratios by birth cohort correspond well with those rate ratios for liver cirrhosis and oesophageal cancer mortality. The attributable risk per cent of alcohol consumption for liver cancer deaths in Japanese men was 70%. It is concluded that alcohol consumption is more important than hepatitis C virus infections as a major cause of liver cancer deaths in Japanese men.