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(Vienna, November 23, 2015) Information presented last month at UEG Week Barcelona 2015 highlighted an increasing public health concern across Europe regarding alcohol and GI diseases1. In particular, healthcare professionals across Europe are being urged to help reduce the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) by taking positive action against alcohol misuse and dependence. High levels of alcohol dependence and low levels of treatment have recently been identified in a European primary care study,2 fuelling the argument that family doctors must play a key role in preventing alcohol-related harm and reducing the incidence of CRC. "There is a very strong dose-dependent relationship between alcohol consumption and the risk of CRC,4" said Professor Matthias Löhr from United European Gastroenterology (UEG). "Primary care teams should be properly supported to identify and treat individuals consuming hazardous levels of alcohol and be vigilant to the signs of CRC in heavy drinkers."
Alcohol and bowel cancer
The link between alcohol consumption and CRC is now well established.3,4 It has been estimated that approximately one in 10 cases of CRC is associated with alcohol consumption,5 and the risk increases in a dose-dependent manner.3,4 A recent meta-analysis found the risk of CRC increased by 21% with moderate alcohol consumption (>1-4 drinks/day, equivalent to 12.6-49.9 g/day ethanol) and by >50% with heavy drinking (?4 drinks per day, equivalent to ?50 g/day ethanol).3 Even having one alcoholic drink a day (10 g/day ethanol) increases the CRC risk by 7%.2
"As healthcare professionals, we need to educate our patients about the dangers of drinking too much alcohol, but we also need to intervene early when we suspect an individual is drinking too much and factor alcohol consumption into our CRC risk assessments."
Alcohol dependence
Alcohol is responsible for over 5% of the global burden of disease1 and dependence on alcohol is highly prevalent in the EU. In a recently-reported study involving six European countries, the 12-month prevalence of alcohol dependence in primary care was almost 9%.2 Treatment rates were low, with only 22% of those diagnosed having previously sought and received professional help.2 The European arm of the World Health Organization estimates that only one in 20 of those with hazardous or harmful alcohol use are identified and offered advice by a primary care provider and that less than one in 20 with a diagnosis of alcohol dependence have seen a specialist for treatment.6
"Given that there is compelling evidence that that both pharmacological and psychological approaches can effectively reduce alcohol consumption,7 it is disappointing to see such low levels of professional intervention in these studies," said Prof. Löhr.
"If we are going to have any impact on the incidence of CRC and other cancers in Europe, we have got to tackle the root of its causes."
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References
1. Alcohol, GI and Liver Disease: An increasing public health issue in Europe, UEG Week 2015. October 2015. Available at: https://www.ueg.eu/education/document-detail/?name=alcohol_gi_and_liver_disease_an_increasing_public_health_issue_in_europe&file=116552
2. Rehm J, Allamani A, Elekes Z, et al. BMC Family Practice 2015;16:90.
3. Fedirko V, Tramacere I, Bagnardi V, et al. Ann Oncol 2011;22:1958-72.
4. Zhu J-Z, Wang Y-M, Zhou Q-M, et al. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2014;40:325¬37.
5. Parkin DM. Br J Cancer 2011;105:S14-S18.
6. World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe 2012. European action plan to reduce the harmful use of alcohol 2012-2020. Available at: http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/178163/E96726.pdf
7. Rehm J, Shield KD. Alcohol consumption, alcohol dependence and attributable burden of disease in Europe: potential gains from effective interventions for alcohol dependence. Centre for Addiction and Mental Health 2012. Available at: http://amphoraproject.net/w2box/data/AMPHORA%20Reports/CAMH_Alcohol_Report_Europe_2012.pdf
8. Eurocare European Alcohol Policy Alliance. Eurocare recommendations for a future EU alcohol strategy. November 2014. Available at: http://www.eurocare.org/library/updates/eurocare_eu_alcohol_strategy
Notes to Editors
Professor Matthias Löhr is a senior physician in the Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology at the Karolinska University in Sweden and a member of UEG's Public Affairs Committee. He has conducted a number of studies on the relationship between alcohol and gastrointestinal diseases.
To interview Professor Löhr, or for further information, please contact Luke Paskins on +44 (0)1444 811099 or media@ueg.eu
About UEG
UEG, or United European Gastroenterology, is a professional non-profit organisation combining all the leading European societies concerned with digestive diseases. Together, its member societies represent over 22,000 specialists, working across medicine, surgery, paediatrics, gastrointestinal oncology and endoscopy. This makes UEG the most comprehensive organisation of its kind in the world, and a unique platform for collaboration and the exchange of knowledge.
To advance standards of gastroenterological care and knowledge across Europe and the world, UEG offers numerous activities and initiatives, including:
- UEG Week, the biggest congress of its kind in Europe, and one of the two largest in the world.
- UEG Education, the universal source of knowledge in gastroenterology, providing online and classroom courses, a huge online library and delivering the latest GI news, fostering debate and discussion
- Training Support, funding for innovative training and educational programmes, as well as international scientific and professional co-operations
- UEG Journal, published bi-monthly, covering translational and clinical studies from all areas of gastroenterology
- EU Affairs, promoting research, prevention, early diagnosis and treatment of digestive diseases, and helping develop an effective health policy for Europe
Find out more about UEG's work by visiting http://www.ueg.eu or contact Luke Paskins on +44 (0)1444 811099 or media@ueg.eu