Korean J Fam Pract.  2022 Feb;12(1):9-15. 10.21215/kjfp.2022.12.1.9.

Socioeconomic Factors Associated with High Risk Drinking of Cancer Survivors in Korea: The Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2016–2017

• Kang Y
• Yoon K
• Lee H
• Song Y
• Shim JY

• KMID: 2526364
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.21215/kjfp.2022.12.1.9

Abstract

Background
This study aimed to analyze the association between socioeconomic factors and high-risk drinking in cancer survivors.
Methods
The study included 11,388 adults who participated in the 2016 and 2017 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. We divided the study population by cancer status and analyzed the effects of socioeconomic factors on high-risk drinking using a chi-square test and multiple logistic regression. We used SPSS 23 for the analysis.
Results
Binge drinkers occupied 27.2% of cancer patients, and 5.3% were found to be heavy drinkers. In cancer patients, low household income (<50%) was associated with binge drinking (heavy episodic drinking) (odds ratio [OR], 2.242; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.220–4.120) and heavy drinking (OR, 3.497; 95% CI, 1.212–10.080). Meanwhile, job was associated with binge drinking (OR, 1.660; 95% CI, 1.479–1.864) and heavy drinking (OR, 1.535; 95% CI, 1.251–1.884) in the non-cancer population. Residence in an urban area and a low educational level were associated with binge drinking (OR, 1.243; 95% CI, 1.061–1.455) and heavy drinking (OR, 1.380; 95% CI, 1.059–1.798), respectively.
Conclusion
In this study, we found that low income was significantly associated with high-risk drinking in cancer patients, whereas other factors including employment, low educational level, and residence in an urban area were associated with high-risk drinking in the general population. These findings suggest that more attention needs to be paid to educating cancer survivors with low income to prevent high-risk drinking and its effects.

Keyword

Cancer; Cancer Survivors; Drinking; Binge Drinking; Socioeconomic Status