High alcohol consumption in adult survivors of childhood cancer increases risk of emotional distress

摘要

Previous studies suggest that the causal pathway from alcohol abuse or dependence to neurocognitive dysfunction and emotional distress may be particularly prevalent among adult survivors of childhood cancer because of cancer-specific risk factors. However, this has not been evaluated for ageing adult survivors. This study investigates the association between alcohol consumption behaviours of such a group and their neurocognitive functioning and emotional distress symptoms, using the Childhood Cancer Survival Study (CCSS). This is a multi-institutional retrospective cohort study of adult survivors of childhood cancer in North America, which commenced in the 1990s, covering participants diagnosed between 1970 and 1986. The CCSS also recruited siblings of cancer survivors, who formed a comparison group.