Assessment of tobacco and alcohol consumption in head and neck malignancies

Günay Kozan; Serkan Dedeoğlu; Şermin Can; Enes Sırma; Hakan Temiz; Mehmet Akdağ; Serdar Ferit Toprak

doi:10.66235/kumj.1906789

Assessment of tobacco and alcohol consumption in head and neck malignancies

Abstract

Aims: Tobacco smoking and alcohol consumption are well-established risk factors in head and neck cancers, but their impact can vary by tumour site and population. This study evaluates the prevalence of smoking and alcohol use among patients with head and neck malignancies and analyses their association with clinical characteristics in a regional cohort.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 130 patients (age 18–80) with head and neck cancer treated at two tertiary centres in Diyarbakır, Turkey, from July to October 2025. Data on tobacco and alcohol use were collected via standardized patient interviews and chart review. Chi-square tests assessed associations between categorical variables (e.g. smoking status vs. tumour site), and Mann-Whitney U tests compared continuous variables (e.g. age) between groups.

Results: The majority of patients (85.4%) had a history of tobacco use, and 40% reported regular alcohol consumption. Median smoking exposure among ever-smokers was 30 pack-years (IQR 20–45). Laryngeal cancer patients were almost universally smokers, whereas a subset of oropharyngeal and nasopharyngeal cancer patients had no history of tobacco or alcohol use. No significant difference in median age at diagnosis was observed between ever-smokers and never-smokers (p>0.05). Patients with combined heavy smoking and drinking habits tended to present with slightly younger ages and advanced-stage disease, though these trends did not reach statistical significance.

Conclusions: Tobacco use was highly prevalent among head and neck cancer patients in our cohort (especially in laryngeal cancers), underscoring its central etiologic role. Alcohol consumption was less common overall, but still notable in a substantial.

Keywords

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Otorhinolaryngology

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Günay Kozan
0000-0002-8676-6175
Türkiye

Serkan Dedeoğlu
0000-0001-6276-8355
Türkiye

Şermin Can
0000-0003-2688-4927
Türkiye

Enes Sırma
0000-0003-0988-495X
Türkiye

Hakan Temiz
0000-0002-3402-2625
Türkiye

Mehmet Akdağ
0000-0003-1377-4227
Türkiye

Serdar Ferit Toprak
0000-0003-3879-8794
Türkiye

Publication Date

March 12, 2026

Submission Date

September 9, 2025

Acceptance Date

October 14, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 6 Number: 1

DOI

https://doi.org/10.66235/kumj.1906789

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA79TR85EX

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Kozan, G., Dedeoğlu, S., Can, Ş., Sırma, E., Temiz, H., Akdağ, M., & Toprak, S. F. (2026). Assessment of tobacco and alcohol consumption in head and neck malignancies. Kastamonu Medical Journal, 6(1), 80-90. https://doi.org/10.66235/kumj.1906789

AMA

1.Kozan G, Dedeoğlu S, Can Ş, et al. Assessment of tobacco and alcohol consumption in head and neck malignancies. Kastamonu Medical Journal. 2026;6(1):80-90. doi:10.66235/kumj.1906789

Chicago

Kozan, Günay, Serkan Dedeoğlu, Şermin Can, et al. 2026. “Assessment of Tobacco and Alcohol Consumption in Head and Neck Malignancies”. Kastamonu Medical Journal 6 (1): 80-90. https://doi.org/10.66235/kumj.1906789.

EndNote

Kozan G, Dedeoğlu S, Can Ş, Sırma E, Temiz H, Akdağ M, Toprak SF (March 1, 2026) Assessment of tobacco and alcohol consumption in head and neck malignancies. Kastamonu Medical Journal 6 1 80–90.

IEEE

[1]G. Kozan et al., “Assessment of tobacco and alcohol consumption in head and neck malignancies”, Kastamonu Medical Journal, vol. 6, no. 1, pp. 80–90, Mar. 2026, doi: 10.66235/kumj.1906789.

ISNAD

Kozan, Günay - Dedeoğlu, Serkan - Can, Şermin - Sırma, Enes - Temiz, Hakan - Akdağ, Mehmet - Toprak, Serdar Ferit. “Assessment of Tobacco and Alcohol Consumption in Head and Neck Malignancies”. Kastamonu Medical Journal 6/1 (March 1, 2026): 80-90. https://doi.org/10.66235/kumj.1906789.

JAMA

1.Kozan G, Dedeoğlu S, Can Ş, Sırma E, Temiz H, Akdağ M, Toprak SF. Assessment of tobacco and alcohol consumption in head and neck malignancies. Kastamonu Medical Journal. 2026;6:80–90.

MLA

Kozan, Günay, et al. “Assessment of Tobacco and Alcohol Consumption in Head and Neck Malignancies”. Kastamonu Medical Journal, vol. 6, no. 1, Mar. 2026, pp. 80-90, doi:10.66235/kumj.1906789.

Vancouver

1.Günay Kozan, Serkan Dedeoğlu, Şermin Can, Enes Sırma, Hakan Temiz, Mehmet Akdağ, Serdar Ferit Toprak. Assessment of tobacco and alcohol consumption in head and neck malignancies. Kastamonu Medical Journal. 2026 Mar. 1;6(1):80-9. doi:10.66235/kumj.1906789