Longitudinal Associations of Former and Current Alcohol Consumption with Psychosocial Outcomes among Colorectal Cancer Survivors 1–15 Years after Diagnosis

Abstract

We aimed to explore positive and negative associations of consuming alcohol with psychosocial outcomes among colorectal cancer (CRC) survivors. We used data of an observational prospective cohort study, consisting of 2625 Dutch CRC survivors enrolled 1-11 years post-diagnosis that were followed-up in 4 yearly surveys. Generalized estimated equation models were used to examine longitudinal associations between alcohol consumption and anxiety, depression, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL), while correcting for sociodemographic, lifestyle and clinical characteristics. Compared to lifetime abstainers, former alcohol consumption was associated with more depressive symptoms, and worse global quality of life and social functioning, while current drinking was associated with less anxiety, depression and better HRQoL. More drinks per week was associated with less nausea/vomiting. Compared to abstainers, moderate (≤7 drinks/week) and heavy alcohol consumption (>7 drinks/week) were associated with less anxiety and depression and better HRQoL, mostly attributable to wine consumption. Whereas current alcohol consumption was longitudinally associated with less anxiety and depression and better HRQoL, former drinking was associated with worse psychosocial outcomes, although based on a small sample size. It is important to consider that besides the potential negative effects of alcohol on patients’ health, alcohol consumption may be positively related with psychosocial outcomes.

Supplemental data for this article is available online at https://doi.org/10.1080/01635581.2022.2044063

Acknowledgments

We thank all patients and their physicians for their participation in the study. In addition, we want to thank the following hospitals for their cooperation: Amphia Hospital, Breda; Bernhoven Hospital, Veghel and Oss; Catharina hospital, Eindhoven; Elkerliek Hospital, Helmond; Jeroen Bosch hospital, ‘s Hertogenbosch; Maxima Medical Centre, Eindhoven and Veldhoven; Sint Anna hospital, Geldrop; Elisabeth-Tweesteden hospital, Tilburg and Waalwijk; VieCury hospital, Venlo and Venray.

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Authorship

Formulating the research questions: DR, MJLB, MPW, FM; Designing the study: DR, MJLB, MPW, FM; Analyzing the data: DR, FM; Interpreting the findings: DR, MJLB, MPW, FM; Writing the article: DR, MJLB, MPW, FM.

Additional information

Funding

The current study was supported by ERAB: The European Foundation for Alcohol Research (number EA 18 20). The data collection for this study was funded by a VENI Grant (#451-10-041) from the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (The Hague, The Netherlands) awarded to Floortje Mols, together with a Medium Investment Grant from the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (The Hague, The Netherlands, #480-08-009). Data from the PROFILES registry will be available for noncommercial scientific research, subject to study question, privacy and confidentiality restrictions, and registration (www.profilesregistry.nl). The data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author. The data are not publicly available due to privacy or ethical restrictions.