Alcohol and breast cancer in an area with high alcohol consumption.

The association between alcohol drinking and breast cancer risk was investigated in 132 breast cancer cases and 499 controls with acute conditions unrelated to alcohol or any of the suspected risk factors for breast cancer, in an area which shows among the highest levels of alcohol consumption and prevalence of alcohol-related diseases in Europe (i.e. Pordenone Province, Northeastern part of Italy). Compared with non-drinkers, the multivariate odds ratio (OR) for ever drinkers was 1.5 (95% confidence interval, CI: 0.8-2.6). The risks for wine (the almost exclusive source of alcohol in the present investigation) were 1.2 for up to 1 drink, 1.4 for up to two drinks, 1.9 for up to 3 and 1.6 for over 3 drinks per day. Time-related factors (i.e. drinking habit duration and age at start of drinking) did not seem to be risk indicators.