Study: Smoking and Alcohol Linked to Breast Cancer and AFib in Older Women

New Study Links Alcohol and Smoking to Both Breast Cancer and AFib in Older Women Worldwide

A groundbreaking global analysis published in the Journal of the American Heart Association reveals that alcohol use and smoking are shared modifiable risk factors for both breast cancer and atrial fibrillation (AFib) in women aged 55 and older. The study, conducted by researchers at Peking University People’s Hospital, analyzed data from 204 countries and regions, finding that in approximately 40% of these areas, rates of both conditions were similarly elevated, particularly in high-income Western nations like the U.S., Canada, and much of Europe. Using machine learning, the team created spatial risk maps to identify high-risk zones and estimate that reducing alcohol intake and smoking could lower breast cancer risk by about 15% and AFib risk by about 12% globally.

The research evaluated 58 health, behavioral, and lifestyle risk factors, with smoking and alcohol use emerging as primary drivers. Alcohol use alone contributed to 9.27% of breast cancer cases and 7.57% of AFib cases. The study highlights that Western lifestyles—including higher body mass index, sedentary behavior, and greater exposure to smoking and alcohol—are linked to the elevated rates. Co-author Shu Wang, M.D., Ph.D., emphasized that identifying these shared risk factors is crucial for developing interventions like smoking cessation and alcohol restriction, which could substantially reduce the global burden of both conditions. The findings underscore the importance of integrated lifestyle strategies to combat both cancer and cardiovascular disease.

This is the first study to combine global data with machine learning to show the relationship between breast cancer and AFib co-occurrence and region-specific risk drivers. The spatial risk maps can guide prevention strategies tailored to each region. Experts like Laxmi Mehta, M.D., FAHA, note that the American Heart Association’s Life’s Essential 8 highlights key behaviors—such as a healthy diet, physical activity, and abstinence from tobacco—that can reduce risk. The study’s limitations include reliance on country-level data, which cannot prove causation, but it paves the way for future research incorporating genetic, metabolic, and socioeconomic factors.